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MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team scored seven unanswered runs to defeat Eastern Illinois 8-3 Sunday at Stanky Field and secure a three-game series sweep.

EIU (0-3) pushed across the game's first run on an RBI groundout to second by Dane Toppel that scored Justin Smith, who reached on a leadoff walk, for a 1-0 lead.

The Jags answered with a run to tie the game in the bottom of the third. USA loaded the bases with no outs in the inning on a leadoff walk by Will Luft and consecutive singles from Cam Cummings and Dylan Hardy. Paul Russo followed with an RBI fielder's choice back to the pitcher that scored Luft and tied the game 1-1.

The Panthers responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth on a two-out RBI single to right field by Smith and two-out RBI single back up the middle by Joseph Duncan to take a 3-1 lead.

South Alabama cut its deficit to one run in the bottom of the fifth when Hardy tripled to right field with two outs, and scored two batters later on an RBI single to center field by Russo.

The Jaguars pushed across four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a three-run lead. Wells Davis and Eddie Paparella reached on consecutive singles to lead off the inning, and each advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jared Barnes. An RBI groundout to second by Luft scored Davis and tied the game 3-3. A wild pitch by EIU right-hander Jake Haberer allowed Paparella to score from third for a 4-3 USA advantage. Drew LaBounty then delivered a two-out, two-run single to right field to double the Jag lead at 6-3.

USA added the game's final runs in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out RBI singles by Luft and Cummings.

Jaguar right-hander Nick DeSantis (1-0) tossed three shutout innings, and allowed just one hit while striking out five and issuing one walk to earn the win in his USA debut. EIU right-hander Dustin Wilson allowed five runs on six hits with a pair of strikeouts and five walks in 5 2/3 innings in the loss.

"(Nick) DeSantis was really good for us today," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "He has that good slider, and he's an older guy who has a feel for what he is doing. I thought that was the right move. They (EIU) were so right-handed dominant that I thought Nick was the right guy to go to there for a hold, and he came in and did a really nice job and got the win for us. I am super proud of his effort today."

Cummings went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored, Hardy finished 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs scored and Davis went 2-for-5 with two runs scored to lead the Jaguars at the plate. LaBounty, Russo and Luft drove in two runs apiece. Joseph Duncan went 2-for-5 with one RBI to lead EIU offensively.

"I thought we played really well in both games yesterday," Calvi said. "Today, we got outplayed the first half of the ballgame; I thought we got outpitched and outhit. But our guys did a nice job responding, and that's what you want to see. You want to see guys respond. Not everything is going to be easy, and I am glad we got pushed a little bit in the first game and in this game and had to respond. Our guys did a nice job. We got a lot of guys in there this weekend, and it was good to see everyone contribute and help this team win."

South Alabama will return to action Tue., Feb. 21, when it hosts Alabama A&M at 6:30 p.m. at Stanky Field.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with USAJaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at Twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Dugout Club - the baseball-specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. Members enjoy all games from inside the Stadium Club with climate control, private restrooms, private concessions and access to listen to the radio broadcast. All donations to the Dugout Club go directly to support the South Alabama baseball program. For more information on how you can join visit JaguarAthleticFund.com.