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MOBILE, Ala. – Kevin Woodall Jr. hit a solo home run in the top of the 10th inning to lift No. 26 Coastal Carolina to a 4-3 series-opening win over the University of South Alabama baseball team Thursday at Stanky Field.

With one out in the inning, Woodall Jr. hit an 0-2 pitch from Jaguar right-hander Matt Peacock over the left-center field wall to plate the game-winning run.

Coastal Carolina right-hander Bobby Holmes (2-2) allowed just one hit in 2 2/3 scoreless relief innings, and struck out three against three walks to earn the win. Peacock (0-2) allowed one run on three hits with a career-high four strikeouts and one walk in a career-high 3 1/3 innings pitched in the loss.

"We got off to a good start with three runs," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "I give (Coastal Carolina starter) Alex Cunningham credit, he settled in and made pitches. We had our chances – it's not like he blanked us. We had our chances with men on base, it's all about putting at-bats together. We didn't do quite enough. He (Cunningham) did a good job of getting his leadoff outs. We got a few innings started, but we couldn't deliver that knockout blow. I give Cunningham and their bullpen credit. It was a good college baseball game. Both teams competed right until the end. They got one more (run) than we did, but there's nothing I would change or do different. As much as it stings, we competed and we'll be ready to go tomorrow."

South Alabama (20-14, 9-4 SBC) pushed across its only three runs in the bottom of the second to break a scoreless tie. Travis Swaggerty led off the inning with a single to center field, stole second and moved to third with one out on a 1-3 groundout off the bat of Eddie Paparella. Carter Perkins then delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Swaggerty with the game's first run. Will Luft singled to center field with two outs, and Jared Barnes followed with a walk before Hunter Stokes delivered a two-run double to right field to score Luft and Barnes for a 3-0 Jaguar lead. 

Coastal Carolina (21-12-1, 9-3-1 SBC) answered with three runs in the top of the fifth to tie the game. Peyton Isaacson drew a leadoff walk, and moved to third one batter later on a double down the right field line by Wood Myers. Kieton Rivers followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Isaacson and cut the USA lead to 3-1. Seth Lancaster then delivered an RBI triple down the right field line to score Myers and cut the Jaguar advantage to 3-2. Matt Beaird followed with an RBI single through the left side of the infield to plate Lancaster and tie the game 3-3.

CCU threatened in the top of the sixth inning, but failed to push across a run. After Jaguar right-hander Randy Bell recorded two quick outs to start the frame, Isaacson and Myers reached on a single and double, respectively, to put two runners in scoring position with one out. But Jaguar left-hander Joey Jones entered in relief of Bell and recorded back-to-back strikeouts to escape the jam and preserve a 3-3 tie until Woodall Jr.'s homer in the 10th.

Swaggerty went 2-for-5 with a double and one run scored, and Hardy finished with a pair of hits to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Stokes doubled and drove in two runs, and Perkins drove in one run. Myers went 4-for-5 with two doubles and one run scored to lead the Chanticleers offensively.

The series will continue with game two at 6:30 p.m. Saturday 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/dugoutclub