Box Score (PDF)

BATON ROUGE, La. – No. 16 LSU used a four-run fifth inning and quality start from right-hander AJ Labas to defeat University of South Alabama baseball 9-4 Wednesday at Alex Box Stadium.

Labas (1-0) allowed five hits in six scoreless innings pitched, and struck out five without issuing a walk to earn the win.

South Alabama will return to action this weekend when it hosts ULM in a three-game series to open Sun Belt Conference play, with game one of the series scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch on Fri., March 16.

GAME FACTS
- LSU jumped out to a two-run lead in the top of the first inning. Zach Watson drew a leadoff walk, and advanced to second on a bunt single down the third base line by Brandt Broussard. A sacrifice bunt to third by Antoine Duplantis moved both runners into scoring position with one out. Austin Bain followed with a walk to load the bases with one out for Hunter Feduccia, who delivered a two-run single to left field for a 2-0 advantage.
- The Tigers extended their lead to 3-0 on a one-out RBI single through the right side of the infield in the bottom of the fourth inning by Hughes.
- LSU loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fifth after Bain reached on an error, Feduccia singled to right field and Beau Jordan reached on a hit by pitch. Bryce Jordan followed with a walk to score Bain and push the Tiger lead to 4-0. Chris Reid then drew a bases-loaded walk to score Feduccia for a 5-0 LSU lead. Watson delivered a two-out, two-run single through the left side of the infield later in the inning to extend the Tiger lead to 7-0.
- LSU added a run in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out RBI single through the left side of the infield by Bryce Jordan for an 8-0 advantage.
- USA loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh after Carter Perkins reached on a fielder's choice with one out, Hunter Brittain singled to right-center field with one out and Will Luft reached on a fielding error by Hughes at shortstop with two outs. Dylan Hardy followed with a walk to score Perkins and cut the LSU lead to 8-1. 
- LSU added a run in the bottom of the seventh on a one-out RBI single to right field by Duplantis for a 9-1 advantage.
- Travis Swaggerty singled to lead off the top of the eighth, moved to second when Brendan Donovan reached on a hit by pitch, and scored on an RBI double down the left field line by Hunter Stokes to cut the Tiger lead to 9-2. A walk by Felix Aberouette loaded the bases with no outs for Brittain, who drew a walk to score Donovan and cut the LSU lead to 9-3. Michael Sandle followed with an RBI single to right-center field to plate Stokes with the game's final run.

NOTES
- Brittain recorded a career high in hits, finishing 3-for-3 with two doubles and one RBI to lead the Jaguars at the plate.
- Stokes went 2-for-2 with a double, one RBI and one run scored off the bench, while Sandle added a hit and one RBI. Swaggerty finished with two hits and one run scored.
- Hardy extended his on-base streak to 17 games, and finished 2-for-4 with one RBI.
- Brenda Donovan extended his on-base streak to 11 games, and Perkins reached base safely in the fifth consecutive game.
- Will Eiland tossed one perfect relief inning, striking out all three batters he faced in the game.
- Jaguar left-hander Caleb Yarborough (1-1) allowed three runs on four hits with two strikeouts against three walks in 3 1/3 innings pitched in the loss.
- Feduccia finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Tigers at the plate.
- No. 16 LSU marked the sixth nationally-ranked opponent South Alabama has faced this season.
- USA fell to 25-16 all-time against LSU with the loss.

QUOTES
Head Coach Mark Calvi
- On the game:
"We struck out too many times and left too many men on base tonight. I give their starter (Labas) credit, but I thought it was average college stuff; we have seen that before and we didn't do a good job with him tonight. We hit some balls hard that resulted in outs, but we just didn't do enough when we got runners on base."

- On opening Sun Belt Conference play this weekend:
"We did some good things tonight; Hunter Brittain and Hunter Stokes both swung it well, and (Brendan) Donovan hit two balls on the nose with nothing to show for it. Will Eiland and (Chase) Lambert threw well out of the bullpen. We still have some things to clean up, but we have also done a lot of good things in the first month of the season. We have played a tough non-conference schedule to prepare us for the conference season, and we're looking forward to opening it up this weekend; I know our guys will be ready to go."

UP NEXT
South Alabama will return to action this weekend when it hosts ULM in a three-game series to open Sun Belt Conference play, with game one of the series scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch on Fri., March 16.

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).

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