Box Score (PDF)

LAFAYETTE, La. – Right-hander JoJo Booker turned in a quality start while the Jaguar offense posted six extra-base hits, including a pair of home runs, in the University of South Alabama baseball team's 9-2 win over Louisiana in Friday's series opener at Russo Park.

Booker (4-3) allowed two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and three walks in six innings pitched to earn his fourth win of the season. Ethan Wilson finished a double shy of hitting for the cycle, and went 3-for-5 with a triple, one home run, two RBIs and three runs scored to lead the Jaguar attack at the plate.

South Alabama (15-18, 5-8 Sun Belt) will return to action Sat., April 13, when it faces Louisiana (17-20, 6-7 Sun Belt) in game two of the three-game set at 1 p.m. at Russo Park.

GAME FACTS
- The Jaguars scored the game's first runs in the top of the second inning. Eddie Paparella drew a leadoff walk, and scored one batter later when Wells Davis lifted an 0-1 pitch from UL left-hander Austin Perrin over the right field wall for a two-run home run, his seventh of the season, for a 2-0 USA advantage.
- Louisiana answered in the bottom of the second on a one-out RBI single through the left side of the infield by Orynn Veillon to cut the Jaguar lead to 2-1. Jordan Wiley followed with a one-out walk to load the bases for O'Neal Lochridge, who right-hander JoJo Booker struck out for the second out of the frame.
- USA responded in the top of the third when Ethan Wilson lifted the first pitch he saw from Perrin over the right field wall for a one-out solo home run, his ninth of the year, for a 3-1 Jaguar lead.
- Kaleb DeLaTorre reached on a hit by pitch to lead off the top of the fifth inning, and moved to second with no outs on a wild pitch from Perrin. Dakota Dailey followed with a walk before Wilson singled through the right side of the infield to load the bases with no outs. Carter Perkins executed a suicide squeeze with one out that scored Wilson for a 4-1 lead. Sandle and Dailey also scored on the play on a throwing error to first by Perrin to extend the Jaguar lead to 6-1.
- The Cajuns cut the South Alabama lead to 6-2 on a leadoff solo home run to left field by Veillon.
- DeLaTorre led off the top of the ninth inning with a double to right-center field, and scored one batter later on an RBI triple to left-center field by Dailey for a 7-2 Jaguar lead. Wilson followed with an RBI triple to left-center field to plate Dailey for an 8-2 advantage. Sandle then delivered a sacrifice fly to left field to score Wilson with the game's final run.

NOTES
- Michael Sandle extended his on-base streak to nine games with a one-out double in the top of the third inning.
- Wilson extended his hitting streak and on-base streak to five games with his solo home run in the top of the third inning.
- Davis and Wilson each homered for the second straight game.
- DeLaTorre extended his on-base streak to five games when he reached on a hit by pitch in the top of the fifth inning.
- Right-hander Zach Greene tossed three scoreless relief innings, and allowed two hits while striking out six without issuing a walk to record his seventh save of the season.
- Perrin (3-4) allowed six runs on five hits with four strikeouts against two walks in 5 2/3 innings pitched in the loss.

QUOTES
Head Coach Mark Calvi
- On the win:
"It was the little things tonight. You would love to see JoJo (Booker) go seven (innings). He ran into a little trouble, but pitched his way out of it. I thought JoJo was really good tonight. Carter (Perkins) did a great job behind the plate, and we played very good defense. Carter had a big bases-loaded squeeze – somehow, someway getting it done. Wells (Davis) with the home run, and Ethan Wilson had a good night. A bunch of guys chipped in, but I thought one of the biggest at-bats was (Kaleb) DeLaTorre falling behind 0-2, running it to 3-2 and then getting hit by a pitch; he just worked in there, and a lot of guys did. Michael Sandle had a good night, you can just see him getting better. I was proud of the effort. Zach (Greene) is pretty much money in the bank, and JoJo is starting to come of age. He has matured a lot as a pitcher in the last two months, and I think there is another jump pitching-wise that he can make this spring. If he can take a walk or two out of there, his 100 pitches should get you seven (innings). But tonight I will take it. I am very proud of these guys and the way they performed."

NEXT UP
South Alabama will return to action Sat., April 13, when it faces Louisiana in game two of the three-game set at 1 p.m. at Russo Park.

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.