Box Score (PDF)

HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana scored runs in seven different frames in a 12-9 win over University of South Alabama baseball Tuesday at Alumni Field.

SLU (35-19) plated at least one run in every inning but the sixth, and held the Jaguars scoreless over the final two innings to earn the win.

South Alabama (29-21) will return to action Thu., May 17, when it travels to Troy, Ala., to kick off a three-game Sun Belt Conference series with Troy at 6 p.m. to close the regular season.

GAME FACTS
- Dylan Hardy singled through the left side of the infield with one out in the top of the first inning, and scored one batter later when Brendan Donovan lifted a 1-1 pitch from SLU right-hander Mason Knopp over the right field wall for a 2-0 Jaguar lead.
- The Lions answered in the bottom of the first on a two-out solo home run to right field by Drew Avans to cut the Jaguar lead in half at 2-1.
- Will Luft singled to right field with two outs, and moved to third on a single through the left side of the infield by Travis Swaggerty to put runners at the corners with two outs. Hardy followed with an RBI single to center field to score Luft for a 3-1 Jaguar lead.
- Mike Taylor reached on a fielding error by Hunter Stokes on a grounder to second to lead off the bottom of the second inning, and advanced to second with no outs following a walk by Evan Pace. A sacrifice bunt by Daniel Wasinger moved both runners into scoring position with one out. Taylor Schwaner followed with a one-out, three-run home run to right field for a 4-3 SLU lead.
- Wells Davis doubled to right field with one out in the top of the third inning, and later scored when Hunter Stokes lifted a 2-0 pitch from Knopp over the right field wall for a 5-4 Jaguar advantage. 
- Avans reached on an infield single to second with one out in the bottom of the third inning, and moved to second on a wild pitch from Jaguar left-hander Zach Melton before Kyle Schimpf reached on a one-out walk. Taylor followed with a walk to load the bases with one out. Pace then drew a bases-loaded walk to score Avans and tie the game at 5-5. Melton struck out Wasinger for the second out of the frame before Schwaner delivered a two-out, two-run single to right field for a 7-5 Lion lead.
- Luft led off the top of the fourth with a single through the left side of the infield, and advanced to second on a walk by Swaggerty. A flyout to center field by Hardy allowed Luft to tag from second to put runners at the corners with one out. Donovan followed with a walk to load the bases with one out before a wild pitch from Lion right-hander Will Warren allowed Luft to score and cut the SLU lead to 7-6. 
- The Lions responded in the bottom of the fourth on a one-out solo home run to right field by Nathan Pilutti for an 8-6 advantage. Avans followed with a double to right field and scored later in the inning on a two-out RBI infield single to shortstop by Taylor to push the SLU lead to 9-6.
- SLU pushed its lead to 10-6 in the bottom of the fifth inning on a leadoff solo home run to right field by Wasinger.
- Luft led off the top of the sixth with a single to center field, and moved to third with no outs on a double to left-center field by Swaggerty. An RBI groundout to first off the bat of Donovan later in the inning scored Luft and cut the SLU lead to 10-7. 
- Paul Russo and Hunter Stokes opened the top of the seventh inning with consecutive singles. A flyout to right field by Michael Sandle allowed both runners to tag and advance into scoring position with one out. A wild pitch from SLU southpaw Trey Shaffer allowed Russo to score and cut the Lion lead to 10-8. Luft followed with an RBI groundout to second to score Stokes and cut the SLU advantage to 10-9. 
- The Lions pushed their lead to 11-9 in the bottom of the seventh when Pace led off the inning with a single, and later scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Schwaner.
- SLU added the game's final run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a two-out RBI single to right-center field by Trenon Trosclair.

NOTES
- USA homered for the fourth consecutive game, and has hit at least one home run in five of its last six contests.
- SLU hit four home runs in the game, marking the second game in a week in which the Jags have allowed four or more homers after Auburn hit four on May 8.
- SLU's Will Warren (1-1) allowed two runs on three hits with one strikeout against three walks in 2 2/3 relief innings to earn the win.
- Jaguar left-hander Zach Melton (2-4) allowed three runs on two hits with a pair of strikeouts and three walks in two-thirds of a relief inning in the loss.
- Lion right-hander Bryce Tassin allowed two hits and struck out two in two scoreless relief innings to record his sixth save of the season.
- Eight Jaguars hit safely in the game, led by Luft who went 3-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored. Hardy finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and one run scored, and Stokes added two hits, including a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Donovan finished with one home run, three RBIs and one run, and Swaggerty added two hits, including a double.
- Schwaner went 3-for-3 with a home run, six RBIs and one run scored to lead SLU at the plate.
- The loss marked the Jaguars' fifth straight at SLU.
- The game also marked the Jags' final non-conference contest of the season.

QUOTES
Head Coach Mark Calvi
- On the loss:
"Our guys competed right up until the end of the game. It's a shame and is disappointing to score nine runs and lose. We have to handle the ball a little bit better early in the game and the whole game. Offense comes and goes, but pitching and defense can't slide on you. Pitching and defense needs to be there, and it was a little bit spotty tonight. It's unfortunate, but we have to move on; we have a stiff test this weekend. We play a very good Troy club on the road and we need to be better."

UP NEXT
South Alabama will return to action Thu., May 17, when it travels to Troy, Ala., to kick off a three-game Sun Belt Conference series with Troy at 6 p.m. to close the regular season.

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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