Box score

MOBILE, Ala. – Austin Bembnowski and Randy Bell combined to shut out Georgia Southern in No. 22 University of South Alabama baseball's 10-0 win in Sunday's series finale at Stanky Field.

Bembnowski (6-1) tossed seven shutout innings and allowed four hits with five strikeouts and two walks to earn his sixth win of the season. Bell pitched one perfect inning before the Jaguars ended the game in the bottom of the eighth due to the 10-run mercy rule.

"I'm very pleased with today," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "Austin Bembnowski pitched off of his fastball and did a really nice job for us. Guys worked to get on base, and Ben Gann came up with a big home run and it was good to see. He has been struggling a little bit offensively, but the one thing with that guy is that he has never let it get to his defense; he is probably the best third baseman in this league. He has never let his offense seep into his defense, and that's a sign of his maturity. It was really good to see him swing the bat well today."

South Alabama (36-14, 19-5 SBC) jumped out to a four-run lead in the bottom of the second. USA loaded the bases with one out in the inning on a single to center field by Carter Perkins, and consecutive walks by Brendan Donovan and Jared Barnes. Ben Gann then lifted an 0-1 pitch from Eagle right-hander Adam Kelly over the left-center field wall for a grand slam home run and a 4-0 Jaguar lead. 

Georgia Southern (29-19, 14-13 SBC) threatened in the top of the fourth when it loaded the bases with two outs. Logan Baldwin led off the inning with a double to center field, and Hunter Thomas followed with a single back up the middle. Cal Baker drew a two-out walk to load the bases, but Jaguar right-hander Austin Bembnowski escaped the jam with an inning-ending fielder's choice off the bat of Kent Rollins.

South Alabama increased its lead to five runs in the bottom of the fourth. Barnes reached on a bunt single down the third base line, and moved to second on a two-out walk by Matt Bolger. Travis Swaggerty followed with an RBI single to left field to score Barnes from second and push the USA lead to 5-0. A bunt single by Cole Billingsley loaded the bases for Drew LaBounty, who delivered a two-run single to right field to plate Bolger and Swaggerty for a 7-0 Jaguar advantage. 

The Jags extended their lead to eight runs in the bottom of the fifth. Perkins singled down the left field line to lead off the bottom of the fifth, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Donovan and scored later in the inning on a two-out double to left field by Gann for an 8-0 lead.

USA added the game's final runs in the bottom of the eighth. Bolger and Swaggerty drew consecutive walks to start the inning. Bolger scored on a throwing error by Eagle third baseman Rollins on a throw to second on a fielder's choice off the bat of LaBounty for a 9-0 lead. Martinez followed with an RBI double to center field to score Swaggerty with the game's final run.

Seven Jaguar starters hit safely in the game, led by Gann who went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, one run scored and a career-high five RBI. Perkins added two hits and two runs scored, and LaBounty had one hit and drove in two runs. 

USA will return to action next weekend when it hosts Louisiana-Lafayette in a three-game Sun Belt Conference series at Stanky Field, with game one scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday night.

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).