Box Score (PDF)

STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern scored nine unanswered runs to defeat the University of South Alabama baseball team 9-2 Friday at J.I. Clements Stadium.

USA (21-21, 8-11 Sun Belt) held a two-run lead after 2 ½ innings before Georgia Southern (25-18, 11-8 Sun Belt) tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Eagles then plated six runs in the fifth inning, and added the final run of the game in the seventh.

South Alabama will return to action Saturday when it faces Georgia Southern at 2 p.m. in game two of the weekend series at J.I. Clements Stadium.

GAME FACTS
- Georgia Southern threatened in the bottom of the second. Jason Swan led off the inning with a single to left field, and moved to third with no outs on a double down the left field line by Austin Thompson. But Jaguar right-hander JoJo Booker struck out Nolan Tressler for the first out of the inning, struck out JP Tighe for the second out of the frame, and induced an inning-ending flyout to left field off the bat of Blake Evans to escape the jam and preserve a scoreless tie.
- South Alabama took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Reid Powers lifted the first pitch he saw from Eagle right-hander Seth Shuman over the right-center field wall for a solo home run. Dakota Dailey reached on a hit by pitch, and advanced to second on a one-out single to right field by Ethan Wilson. Kaleb DeLaTorre later delivered a two-out RBI double down the left field line to score Dailey for a 2-0 advantage.
- The Eagles loaded the bases in bottom of the fourth on three consecutive one-out walks by Swan, Thompson and Tressler. Tighe followed with a two-run single up the middle to tie the game at 2-2.
- Georgia Southern took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out RBI single to left field by Noah Leford. Swan followed with a two-run single up the middle to push the Eagle lead to 5-2. Consecutive walks by Thompson and Noah Searcy loaded the bases with one out. Tighe then delivered a two-run single down the left field line for a 7-2 Eagle advantage. Evans then reached on an RBI fielder's choice to extend the GASO lead to 8-2. 
- The Jags loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the sixth. Michael Sandle led off the inning with a walk, Carter Perkins drew a one-out walk and Bennett Shell reached on a two-out walk. But Shuman recorded an inning-ending strikeout of Powers to escape the jam.
- Georgia Southern loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth on a leadoff single by Mason McWhorter, a one-out single by Ledford and one-out walk by Swan. But Jaguar right-hander Joel Cheatwood rolled a 5-2-3 inning-ending double play to end the threat.
- The Eagles scored the game's final run in the bottom of the seventh when Mason Miller doubled to lead off the inning, advanced to second on a groundout to second by Tighe and scored on a wild pitch by Cheatwood.

NOTES
- Wilson extended his hitting streak and on-base streak to 13 games with a one-out single in the top of the first inning.
- Powers hit the first home run of his career, a solo shot to right-center field, in the top of the third.
- DeLaTorre extended his on-base streak to 13 games with a two-out RBI double in the top of the third.
- Michael Sandle extended his on-base streak to six games with a leadoff walk in the top of the sixth inning.
- Carter Perkins extended his on-base streak to six games with a walk in the top of the sixth.
- Montiel extended his on-base streak to 10 games with a single in the top of the seventh.
- Wells Davis' on-base streak was snapped at 10 games.
- Jaguar right-hander Tyler Perez (1-1) allowed one run on two hits in the loss.
- USA right-hander Hunter Phillips tossed 1 1/3 scoreless relief innings.

Head Coach Mark Calvi
- On the loss:
"We were 2-2 going into the bottom of the fifth (inning). We had to pull JoJo (Booker) out of there, but I liked our chances and still felt good going into the bottom of the fifth that we would win the second half of the game. We gave them a few too many free passes early, and left some pitches out over the plate. I credit Georgia Southern; they did a good job with two strikes. We just didn't make enough pitches. We fell behind and didn't put guys away, and I give Georgia Southern credit; they did a nice job. I thought our guys fought all game long, we just dug too big of a hole."

NEXT UP
South Alabama will return to action Saturday when it faces Georgia Southern at 2 p.m. in game two of the weekend series at J.I. Clements Stadium.
 
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.