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MOBILE, Ala. – Southern rallied for four runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat the 23rd-ranked University of South Alabama baseball team 5-4 Friday at Stanky Field.

John Pope led off the top of the ninth with a walk, and Anthony Valdes followed with a hit by pitch. An RBI single by Franky Montesino cut the Jaguar lead in half at 4-2. Marcus Hodge's sacrifice bunt moved two runners into scoring position before Troy Lewis tied the game one batter later on a two-run single to right-center field. Lewis advanced to third on the play after Jaguar right fielder Travis Swaggerty's throw sailed high at home plate, and then scored the eventual game-winning run on a sacrifice fly to center field by Robinson Mateo.

USA (28-11) put the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth. Carter Perkins reached on a one-out double to left-center field, but SU right-hander Justin Freeman induced a flyout to left field off the bat of Brendan Donvoan and a game-ending groundout to third by Jared Barnes to seal the victory, which snapped South Alabama's home winning streak at 14 games.

"They (Southern) played better than we did when it mattered, and we got beat," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "They played better and deserved to win. We didn't do enough to deserve to win the baseball game tonight. It's disappointing. I give credit to their pitchers. We didn't do enough offensively to win, but tomorrow is a new day and we'll be ready to go."

Freeman (2-2) allowed one run on three hits in 2 2/3 relief innings to earn his second win of the season. Jaguar right-hander Cody Van Aken (0-1) allowed one run on one hit in one-third of an inning in the loss. USA right-hander Kevin Hill allowed two runs on five hits and tied a season high with 12 strikeouts against five walks in eight innings, but did not factor in the decision.

South Alabama jumped out to a two-run lead in the top of the first. Cole Billingsley singled with one out, stole second and scored on an RBI double to left-center field by Drew LaBounty for a 1-0 Jaguar lead. A sacrifice fly to right field by Danny Martinez scored LaBounty later in the inning to double the USA lead to 2-0.

USA added a run to its lead in the bottom of the third. LaBounty drew a leadoff walk to start the inning, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout to second by Carter Perkins. Brendan Donovan drew a two-out walk to put runners at the corners before a wild pitch by SU right-hander Joseph Sanchez scored LaBounty to push the Jag lead to 3-0. 

Southern (12-22) answered with a solo home run by Mateo to lead off the top of the fourth to cut the USA lead to 3-1.

The Jags added their final run of the game in the bottom of the eighth. Ben Gann singled to lead off the inning, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Adam Wolfe. Swaggerty followed with a one-out RBI single to left field to extend his hitting streak to 11 games and plate Gann for a 4-1 USA advantage. 

Billingsley went 2-for-4 with one run scored and one stolen base to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Perkins also went 2-for-4 with a double, and Swaggerty added a hit and one RBI. Dondrayas Harris went 2-for-3 to lead Southern offensively.

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).