Box Score (PDF)

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team scored four runs in the first inning, and right-hander Will Eiland tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings for a 9-1 series-opening win over Appalachian State Friday at Stanky Field. 

Eiland (1-0) struck out a career-high four batters in a career-high 4 1/3 scoreless innings, and allowed just two hits while issuing one walk.

South Alabama will return to action Saturday when it hosts App State in a doubleheader to conclude the series, with game one of the twinbill set for a 10:30 a.m. first pitch.

GAME FACTS
- Dylan Hardy reached on an infield single to shortstop with one out in the top of the first, and moved to second on a walk by Brendan Donovan. A double steal advanced both runners into scoring position before Hunter Brittain drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Wells Davis then drew a walk to score Hardy for a 1-0 Jaguar advantage. Carter Perkins followed with an RBI single through the right side of the infield to plate Donovan and double the Jaguar lead at 2-0. Hunter Stokes delivered a two-out, two-run double down the left field line later in the inning to score Brittain and Davis for a 4-0 Jaguar lead.
- App State answered with its first run of the game in the top of the second. Drew Beck led off the inning with a single to left field, moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a single to center field by CJ Brown to put runners at the corners with no outs. Arguelles then rolled a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Jason Avers that allowed Beck to score from third and cut the USA lead to 4-1. 
- Swaggerty reached on a one-out walk in the bottom of the fourth, and moved to second on a single to left field by Hardy. Donovan reached on a hit by pitch to load the bases with one out before Brittain drew a walk to score Swaggerty and extend the USA lead to 5-1. Davis walked to score Hardy and push the Jaguar lead to 6-1.
- USA took a 7-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out RBI single to left field by Donovan that scored Michael Sandle, who reached on a one-out walk earlier in the inning.
- The Jags pushed their lead to 8-1 in the bottom of the seventh on a one-out RBI single through the left side of the infield by Hardy that scored Swaggerty, who reached on a fielding error by App State third baseman Beck. 
- A two-out RBI single to center field by Stokes in the bottom of the eighth scored Will Luft, who doubled to left field with two outs, with the game's final run.

NOTES
- Six Jaguar starters hit safely in the game, led by Hardy who went 3-for-5 with one RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Stokes finished 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs, and Davis added a hit, two RBIs, one run scored and walked three times.
- Arguelles allowed just one run on two hits with seven strikeouts against three walks in 4 2/3 innings pitched without factoring in the decision.
- App State left-hander Collin Schmid (1-2) allowed six runs on four hits with six strikeouts and seven walks in 3 1/3 innings in the loss.
- Hardy extended his on-base streak to 25 games.
- USA extended its winning streak against App State to four games.
- The Jaguars stole a season-high four bases in the game, led by Hardy's two. Swaggerty and Donovan finished with one stolen base apiece.

QUOTES
Head Coach Mark Calvi
- On the mound:
"Andy (Arguelles) struck out the first three guys he faced, but went a little too deep in too many counts and that's why we had to go out there and get him early. He hung in there and made some pitches when he had to; I have seen him with better stuff than that and I have seen him just like that tonight. But he hangs in there and makes some pitches to kind of keep you on the edge of your seat. And Will Eiland was really good coming in behind him, coming out of the bullpen and throwing strikes."

- On the offense:
"We didn't have a lot of hits, but when you have bases loaded and guys take a couple of walks on marginal pitches then that's as good as a single to me. Our guys were unselfish and took what they were given tonight. We had five or six guys with RBIs, and when you do that then you usually win if you pitch and play good defense. I was pleased with the result, but there are still some guys who are continuing to work hard and not getting results; they just need to keep grinding. When they get going, then our offense will start to click a little bit more but I am pleased with the result tonight."

UP NEXT
South Alabama will return to action Saturday when it hosts App State in a doubleheader to conclude the series, with game one of the twinbill set for a 10:30 a.m. first pitch.

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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