Box Score (PDF)

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team defeated Georgia State 19-9 Sunday at Stanky Field to secure a three-game Sun Belt Conference series sweep.

The game was called after eight innings due to the 10-run mercy rule. USA (15-9, 5-1 SBC) scored 13 of its 19 runs over its final three at-bats, including a six-run sixth inning.

Brendan Donovan finished with a season-high three hits, and went 3-for-3 with a double, three RBI, three runs scored and three walks to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Will Luft finished 3-for-4 with three RBI, and Drew LaBounty added two hits, including a double, one RBI and tied a school record with five runs scored. Dylan Hardy added two hits, including a double, with one RBI and two runs scored, while Wells Davis finished 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs.

"We preach having good at-bats and don't give away pitches," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "Those are selfless at-bats; guys aren't selfish and willing to take some pitches, take walks and turn it over to their teammates. We have done a much better job of getting our leadoff man on base, and done a really good job of competing and pushing across runs with two outs. I'm proud of our guys."

South Alabama jumped out to a one-run lead in the bottom of the first inning. Donovan drew a one-out walk, stole second and moved to third on a groundout to first by Travis Swaggerty. Eddie Paparella followed with a two-out double to the left-center field gap to score Donovan with the game's first run.

The Panthers responded with a run in the top of the second to tie the game. Darius Sewell doubled down the left field line to lead off the inning, and later scored on a wild pitch from USA right-hander Tyler Carr with two outs to tie the game 1-1.

Georgia State (11-13, 1-5 SBC) pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the third to take a two-run lead. Jaylen Woullard led off the inning with a walk then stole second before Romero Greer reached on a throwing error by LaBounty on a grounder to shortstop. A sacrifice bunt by Ryan Blanton moved both runners into scoring position with one out. Carr struck out Justin Jones for the second out of the frame before Nick Gatewood delivered a two-run single to right field for a 3-1 Panther lead. 

South Alabama answered with two runs in the bottom of the third to tie the game. Hardy doubled down the left field line with one out, and moved to third with one out on a wild pitch by GSU left-hander Brandon Baker. LaBounty drew a walk to put runners at the corners with one out before an RBI single back up the middle by Donovan scored Hardy and cut the Panther lead to 3-2. A wild pitch from Baker on a walk to Swaggerty later in the inning allowed LaBounty to score from third and tie the game 3-3.

The Jaguars took a three-run lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jared Barnes doubled to center field with two outs, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out RBI single to left field by Hardy for a 4-3 advantage. LaBounty followed with an RBI double to right-center field to score Hardy from first for a 5-3 USA lead. Donovan then delivered an RBI single to right field to plate LaBounty and double the Jaguar lead at 6-3.

GSU answered in the top of the fifth on a two-out RBI double to right field by Gatewood and an RBI single to left field by Darius Sewell to cut the USA lead to 6-5.

South Alabama then scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth to push its lead to seven. Barnes led off the inning with a walk, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hardy. Donovan followed with an RBI double to right-center field to score Barnes for a 7-5 Jaguar advantage. Swaggerty drew a walk to load the bases with one out for pinch-hitter Paul Russo, who reached on a hit by pitch to score LaBounty for an 8-5 USA lead. Wells Davis then delivered a two-run single to center field to double the Jaguar lead to 10-5. Luft followed with a two-run single back up the middle to push the USA advantage to 12-5. 

GSU added four runs in the top of the seventh on sacrifice flies by Sperry and Jarrett Hood, and a two-run home run to left-center field by Will Kilgore to cut the USA lead to 12-9.

USA answered with three runs in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI bunt single by Davis on a squeeze play that scored two additional runs following a throwing error by GSU catcher Gatewood for a 16-9 advantage.

USA added the game's final runs in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI bases-loaded walk by Swaggerty, wild pitch from GSU left-hander Devin Vainer that scored LaBounty and an RBI double to right-center field by Matt Bolger.

Carr (2-0) allowed three earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks in 5 1/3 innings pitched to earn the win. GSU right-hander Tanner Thomson (1-2) allowed three runs on four hits in one inning pitched in the loss.

"I thought Tyler Carr did well enough," Calvi said. "You're not going to throw up zeroes every time out. When you get popped in the mouth you have to fight back, and that's what he did today. He hung in there and competed for his team and teammates. We're happy for the results this weekend."

South Alabama will return to action Tue., March 28, when it travels to Hattiesburg, Miss., for a 6 p.m. contest with Southern Mississippi.

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/dugoutclub