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MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama baseball right-hander Kevin Hill tossed eight scoreless innings and struck out 10 batters to lead the Jaguars to a 7-1 series-opening win over Texas State Friday at Stanky Field.

Hill (2-0) issued four walks to go along with his 10 strikeouts, and allowed just two hits in eight innings pitched to earn his second win of the season. He allowed a one-out single in the top of the first, and didn't surrender another hit until the bottom of the eighth.

"I felt good at the beginning of the game," Hill said. "I started getting a little tired toward the end of the game; it was a little humid. As soon as I got into a rhythm, my changeup started working, I got the slider in there and got the fastball across when I needed to."

USA (14-8, 4-3 SBC) jumped out to a one-run lead in the bottom of the first inning. Cole Billingsley reached on a two-out bunt single down the third-base line, stole second then scored on an RBI single to right-center field by Adam Ballew for a 1-0 Jaguar advantage.

South Alabama added to its lead in the bottom of the third after it sent eight batters to the plate. Bud Collura led off the inning with a single to the left side of the infield, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jared Barnes before Billingsley drew a one-out walk from TSU starter Lucas Humpal. Ballew followed with an RBI single to right field to plate Collura and push the USA lead to 2-0. Danny Martinez singled to right field to load the bags for Cole Gleason, who singled to right field to score Billingsley and Ballew and extend the Jag lead to 4-0. Matt Bolger followed with a single to right field to load the bases for Ben Gann, but Humpal induced an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play to escape the jam without any further damage.

USA loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth after consecutive singles by Martinez and Gleason to start the inning, and a one-out single to left field from Gann. Ryan Raspino followed with an RBI groundout to third to score Martinez and extend the Jag lead to 5-0. A wild pitch from Humpal later in the inning allowed Gleason to score from third and push the USA lead to 6-0. Collura then delivered a two-out double to left-center field to score Gann with the final Jag run of the game.

Texas State (9-11-1, 5-2 SBC) scored its lone run of the game in the top of the ninth on a sacrifice fly from Dylan Paul.

Humpal (3-2) took the loss in 4 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs on 13 hits with three strikeouts and a pair of walks.

Eight Jaguar starters recorded at least one hit in the game, led by Ballew who finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored and Gleason who went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run. Billingsley added two hits, two runs scored and three stolen bases, and Collura finished with two hits, an RBI and one run.

The series will continue with game two Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Stanky Field.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).