Box score

MOBILE, Ala. – Kevin Hill carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning, and struck out a career high 15 batters in a complete-game effort to lead the University of South Alabama baseball team to an 8-0 series-opening win over Georgia State Friday at Stanky Field.

Hill (7-0) did not allow a hit until the top of the ninth when Ryan Blanton singled to shallow left-center field, just out of the grasp of Jaguar shortstop Ryan Raspino. The right-hander finished with 15 strikeouts against four walks to record his second complete game of the season, and fourth of his career, while picking up his seventh consecutive win in as many starts. Hill issued a two-out walk in the top of the third, then settled in to retire the next 16 Panthers he faced before issing a leadoff walk in the eighth.

"I have never thrown a no-hitter," Hill said. "I was nervous when I went back out for the ninth inning. But I wanted to get my revenge from last year. Today was just one of those days where everything felt great."

"Kevin was completely dominant tonight," USA assistant coach Alan Luckie said. "He just did an incredible job of getting ahead of hitters and throwing five different pitches for strikes to keep them (Georgia State) off-balance all night. It's extremely difficult to comfortable in the box when you are facing someone like that, and he has velocity to go with it. He had a phenomenal night for us. It was a huge outing for him, and a huge win for us."

South Alabama (27-16, 12-7 SBC) put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the first, and scored in what resulted as the only run Hill would need. Ben Gann and Adam Ballew reached on a pair of consecutive one-out singles before Cole Gleason singled back up the middle to score Gann with the game's first run.

USA doubled its lead an inning later. Raspino reached on a two-out walk, and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt from GSU right-hander Nathan Bates at first. Cole Billingsley followed with two-out walk by Bates. Bud Collura then delivered a two-out RBI single to left field to plate Raspino for a 2-0 Jaguar advantage.

South Alabama put a runner in scoring position with no outs in the bottom of the third, but was unable to push a run across. Ballew reached on a hit by pitch from Bates to lead off the inning and then stole second, but was stranded when Bates recorded consecutive strikeouts and escaped the inning with a groundout to third off the bat of Matt Bolger to keep the Panther deficit at two runs.

The Jags extended their lead to four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jared Barnes reached on a leadoff single through the left side of the infield, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Raspino. Collura then delivered a two-out RBI single into left-center field to score Barnes and push the USA lead to three runs. Gann drew a two-out walk from Bates to put runners at the corners, after a two-base throwing error by Ryan Blanton from center field allowed Collura to move to third on the single. Ballew then singled through the right side of the infield to score Collura for a 4-0 Jaguar lead.

USA pushed its lead to five runs in the bottom of the fifth when Garrett DeGallier reached on a leadoff single, and scored one batter later on a throwing error by GSU third baseman Caden Bailey on a single to third by Matt Bolger. Barnes followed with an RBI single back up the middle to score Bolger for a 6-0 Jag advantage. A two-out, two-run single to right field by Collura resulted in the final two runs of the game.

Eight Jaguar starters recorded at least one hit in the contest, led by Collura who went 3-for-5 with a run scored and tied a career high with four RBI. Barnes finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs, and Ballew added two hits and an RBI.

"Eight out of nine guys hitting safely is very encouraging," Luckie said. "We've struggled swinging the bat the last week or so. Collura and Ballew each had a big night for us, but eight different kids had hits and that makes it easier to score runs."

Bates (4-1) allowed four runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and three walks in 3 2/3 innings in the loss.

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