Box score

MOBILE, Ala. – Kyle Clement's solo home run in the top of the 11th inning lifted No. 21 Louisiana-Lafayette to a 5-4 win over No. 23 University of South Alabama baseball Saturday at Stanky Field.

After USA tied the game in the bottom of the 10th on a one-out home run to right-center field by Travis Swaggerty, Clement led off the top of the 11th with a home run on a 2-0 pitch from Jaguar right-hander Hunter Soleymani.

"We had too many strikeouts and that hurt us," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "If we could have had some better at-bats early on, I felt like we could have had another run or two on the board and made that score stand up through nine innings. But it didn't happen and we had to fight through some obstacles – a really good pitcher and really good team. We were right there in the end, and all you can ask for as a coach is that your pitchers and your team put you in a position to win or be successful. Our guys did, but tonight wasn't our night. We will mentally re-group and be ready to go tomorrow."

ULL (32-19, 17-9 SBC) rallied for two runs with two outs in the top of the first. Kyle Clement reached on a two-out single to center field, and moved to second on a fielding error by Drew LaBounty at shortstop on a grounder off the bat of Stefan Trosclair. Brenn Conrad followed with a two-run double down the right field line for a 2-0 Cajun lead.

USA threatened when it loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fifth on a single by Ben Gann, Matt Bolger reached on a fielding error by Cajun shortstop Hunter Kasuls and Travis Swaggerty reached on a fielder's choice in which Bolger advanced to second when Kasuls mishandled the feed at second base by Trosclair on the potential double play. But ULL right-hander Nick Lee ended the threat with an inning-ending double play ball of the bat of Cole Billingsley to preserve a two-run Cajun lead.

South Alabama (37-15, 20-6 SBC) answered with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to take a one-run lead. Jared Barnes doubled to left field with one out, and scored the Jaguars' first run of the game one batter later on an RBI double to left-center field by Ben Gann which also chased Lee from the game. Adam Wolfe then delivered a two-run, pinch-hit home run to left field to score Gann for a 3-2 Jaguar lead.

ULL responded with a run in the top of the eighth to tie the game. Kennon Fontenot reached on a one-out double to left field, moved to third on a groundout to second by Kasuls and scored on a wild pitch by Jaguar right-handed starter Randy Bell to tie the game 3-3.

The Cajuns took a one-run lead in the top of the 10th. Alex Pinero led off the inning with a single to center field, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nick Thurman. Fontenot then delivered a one-out RBI single to center field to score pinch-runner Ishmael Edwards from second with the go-ahead run before Swaggerty's home run in the bottom-half of the inning extended the game.

Moore (6-1) allowed two runs on three hits with five strikeouts and one walk in 4 2/3 innings to earn the win. Soleymani (4-3) allowed one run on two hits with one strikeout in one inning pitched in the loss.

Gann went 2-for-5 with a double, one RBI and one run scored to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Wolfe added a home run, two RBI and one run scored, and Swaggerty finished with one home run, one RBI and one run scored. Conrad went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI to lead the Cajuns offensively.

The series will conclude with the rubber match at 1 p.m. Sunday.

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).