Box score

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team used a seven-run third inning and quality start from Jared Gates to earn a series sweep over Georgia State with a 7-2 win in Sunday's series finale at Stanky Field.

Gates (4-2) tied a career high with nine strikeouts, and issued two walks while allowing three hits and two runs in 7 2/3 innings pitched en route to his fourth win of the season. GSU right-hander Cole Uvila (1-5) allowed seven runs on four hits with five walks and one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings in the loss.

Georgia State (26-18, 13-6 SBC) took the game's first lead in the top of the first when Ryan Blanton led off the game with a solo home run down the right-field line.

But USA (29-16, 14-7 SBC) answered in the bottom of the third with all seven of its runs. Uvila issued consecutive walks to Cole Billingsley and Bud Collura to start the bottom of the third. Ben Gann followed with a groundout to first base to move both runners into scoring position with one out. Adam Ballew reached on catcher's interference to load the bases for Cole Gleason with one out. Gleason drew a walk to plate Billingsley and tie the game 1-1. Garrett DeGallier then reached on a fielding error by Jack Thompson at first base that allowed Collura and Ballew to score and give the Jags a 3-1 lead. An RBI single from Matt Bolger and two-run double by Jared Barnes pushed the USA lead to 6-1. Billingsley then delivered a two-out RBI triple down the right-field line later in the inning to extend the Jaguar lead to six runs.  

GSU added the game's final run in the top of the fourth on a solo home run to left field by Thompson.

The South Alabama pitching staff combined to allow just three runs on 10 hits in the three-game set with Georgia State, who entered the weekend as the top-hitting team in Sun Belt Conference games.

"Our guys pitched extremely well the entire series," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "We have played really well behind our pitchers most of the year. We've been opportunistic offensively, and we have played good defense. Coach Keller does a fantastic job with the pitching staff, and they are ready for situations that they are in and are prepared for the team's we play. Whenever you sweep a team on the weekend, you played well and you caught some breaks along the way.

"Our guys played well this weekend, and we pitched extremely well. Gates was good today. Our guys have given us a chance in pretty much every ballgame we have played this year, and that's all you can ask out of a pitching staff. We'll need them to continue. It's where we're at right now – this isn't the end of the year. There are nine conference games left; it's just where we are entering this week. You have to play the game and play it the right way. But I was super-proud of our pitchers and their effort this weekend. Our guys have been on the road a good bit the last month, and to their credit our kids do things right. They are going to class the next day after getting home at 1 a.m. from a road trip, and our coaches are in the office early and ready to go to work. It's harder when you do things right, but I am proud of them. We have a long way to go. We were one of those teams in the balance entering the weekend, and I told our guys their mental-approach will be the determining factor for this team at the end of the year."

Billingsley went 3-for-4 with a triple, one RBI and one run scored to lead the Jags at the plate. Barnes finished 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and one run scored, while Bolger added a hit and an RBI.

South Alabama will return to action Wed., April 29, when it travels to Hattiesburg, Miss., for a 6 p.m. contest with Southern Mississippi.

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).