Box score

JONESBORO, Ark. – The University of South Alabama scored 10 runs in the first three innings en route to a 13-10 series-opening win over Arkansas State Friday at Tomlinson Field.

After a scoreless first inning, USA sent 10 batters to the plate and exploded for five runs in the top of the second. Cole Gleason singled to center field to lead off the inning, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Matt Bolger. Ben Gann followed with an RBI double down the left-field line for a 1-0 Jaguar lead. Ryan Raspino then extended his hitting streak to 10 games with an RBI single to right field that plated Gann and doubled the USA lead. The Jags loaded bases two batters later after a bunt single by Cole Billingsley, followed by Jared Barnes reaching on a fielding error by ASU right-hander Tyler Zuber. Bud Collura then drew a walk to force home Raspino with the third run of the inning. Adam Ballew followed with an RBI fielder's choice to second that allowed Billingsley to score for a 4-0 USA lead. Danny Martinez then delivered a two-out RBI single to right-center field to score Barnes to extend the Jag lead to 5-0.

ASU answered in the bottom of the second when Tanner Ring reached on a leadoff single, stole second and scored on an RBI double to left field by Stuart Levy to cut the Jag lead to 5-1 and snap right-hander Kevin Hill's consecutive scoreless-innings streak at 16 1/3 innings.

The Jags pushed their lead to nine runs in the top of the third after sending 10 batters to the dish for the second straight inning. Bolger and Gann reached on consecutive singles. A sacrifice bunt by Raspino moved both runners into scoring position with one out. Billingsley followed with an RBI infield single to first base to score Bolger and push the USA lead to 6-1. A passed ball charged to ASU catcher Stuart Levy allowed Gann to score for a 7-1 USA lead. Consecutive walks by Zuber to Barnes and Collura loaded the bases with one out. Ballew then delivered a sacrifice fly to right field to allow Billingsley to score for an 8-1 Jag advantage. Following an ASU pitching change, Gleason singled to shallow center field to score Barnes and Collura and push the USA lead to 10-1.

"We were up 11 runs after four-and-a-half innings," head coach Mark Calvi said. "Our guys did a good job with arguably one of the better Friday-night guys in the league. We jumped on him, but the problem is that Arkansas State still had five innings left to hit. I give them credit. Trying to swing the bat against Kevin Hill wasn't working for them, but we didn't play our best defense behind him.

"Our guys have played exceptional for the last month-and-a-half, but we made some mistakes and they got some hits and the next thing you know they started creeping back into it. This is a very hard game, and when you don't make routine plays it gets even harder. But our guys were ready to play. We came in here on the road against one of the better Friday-night guys in the league, and we did what we needed to do. I'm proud of our guys for getting a win on Friday night."

An RBI double to right-center field by Bolger in the top of the fifth extended the USA lead to 11-1. Gann followed with an RBI groundout to shortstop to push the Jag advantage to 11 runs.

But Arkansas State scored nine unanswered runs from the fifth to the eighth to cut the Jaguar lead to two. ASU scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth, highlighted by a two-run home run by Austin Baker to cut the South Alabama lead to 12-5. An RBI double by Ty White cut the USA lead in half at 12-6 in the bottom of the sixth and an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh by Ring cut the ASU deficit to five runs.

Arkansas State plated three runs in the bottom of the eighth to cut the USA lead to two runs. The Red Wolves loaded the bases with one out in the inning, but Ben Taylor induced a 5-3 inning-ending double play to Collura at third off the bat of Ring to escape the jam.

"That double play was huge," Calvi said. "That was one heck of a play Bud Collura made; that was unquestionably our biggest defensive play of the game. I feel very thankful that it was hit to a senior who is in his third year with the program. He knew exactly what to do with it. He knew how fast the runner was and that he had time to go to the bag and then make the throw. Bud Collura has been huge for us, and he was big for us tonight. He's been exceptional for us this year."

South Alabama added its final run of the game on a two-out RBI single to center field by Bolger in the top of the ninth.

The Red Wolves brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth after a leadoff single from Collin Massanelli and a hit by pitch from Taylor to Eric Wilcoxson with two outs. But Taylor ended the game with a strikeout of ASU pinch-hitter Ty Michelotti.

Every Jaguar starter recorded at least one hit in the game, led by Bolger who tied a career high with three hits and finished 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored. Gann added two hits, including a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Baker went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored to lead the Red Wolves offensively.

Hill (4-0) allowed seven earned runs on 11 hits and struck out six while issuing one walk to earn his fourth consecutive win in as many starts. Taylor tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings, and allowed just one hit with one strikeout and a walk to earn his third save of the season.

South Alabama will attempt to clinch the series in game two Saturday at 6 p.m.

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).