Box Score (PDF)

STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern defeated the University of South Alabama baseball team 16-12 Saturday to clinch the three-game Sun Belt Conference series at J.I. Clements Stadium.

USA (21-22, 8-12 Sun Belt) scored six runs in the top of the eighth inning to cut its deficit to one run, but Georgia Southern (26-18, 12-8 Sun Belt) answered with three runs insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to secure the win.

South Alabama will return to action Sunday when it faces Georgia Southern in the series finale at noon (CT).

GAME FACTS
- Michael Sandle singled up the middle to lead off the game, stole second and moved to third on a single through the left side of the infield by Ethan Wilson to put runners at the corners with no outs. Kaleb DeLaTorre followed with an RBI double to left-center field to score Sandle with the game's first run. Carter Perkins then delivered a two-run double down the left field line to plate Wilson and DeLaTorrre for a 3-0 Jaguar advantage. 
- Georgia Southern cut the Jaguar lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the first on a two-run home run to center field by Mason McWhorter.
- The Eagles loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the third when McWhorter reached on a hit by pitch to lead off the inning, and Noah Ledford and Jason Swan drew consecutive one-out walks. Austin Thompson then delivered an RBI single to left field to tie the game at 3-3. Christian Avant followed with a two-run single up the middle for a 5-3 Georgia Southern lead. A wild pitch from Jaguar right-hander Chase Lambert allowed Thompson to score and double the Eagle lead at 6-3.
- USA answered with three runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game. Nick Lewis singled to left field with two outs, and Sandle followed with a walk. Ethan Wilson then delivered a two-run double down the right field line to cut the Eagle lead to 6-5. DeLaTorre followed with an RBI single through the right side of the infield to plate Wilson and tie the game at 6-6.
- Georgia Southern loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fifth on a single to left field by Avant, and consecutive walks by Nolan Tressler and Blake Evans. Steven Curry followed with a two-run single to right field for an 8-6 Eagle lead. McWhorter then delivered a three-run home run to right field for an 11-6 GASO advantage.
- The Eagles doubled their lead to 12-6 in the bottom of the sixth when Avant reached on a one-out fielding error by Dakota Dailey at second to allow Swan, who reached on a walk earlier in the inning, to score from second. Evans delivered a two-out RBI double down the left field line later in the inning for a 13-6 GASO lead.
- The Jaguars responded in the top of the eighth when Wilson doubled to the right-center gap to score Lewis and cut the Eagle lead to 13-7. DeLaTorre followed with a two-run single to center to plate Sandle and Wilson to cut the GASO advantage to 13-9. Wells Davis delivered a two-out, two-run double to left field later in the inning to cut the GASO lead to 13-11. Montiel followed with an RBI single through the right side of the infield to score Davis and cut the Eagle lead to 13-12.
- The Eagles added the game's final runs in the bottom of the eighth on a fielding error by Dailey on a grounder to second by Evans, and a two-run single to center field by McWhorter.

NOTES
- Wilson extended his hitting streak and on-base streak to 14 games with a single in the top of the first inning.
- DeLaTorre extended his on-base streak to 14 games with an RBI double in the top of the first.
- Michael Sandle extended his on-base streak to seven games with a single to lead off the game.
- Carter Perkins extended his on-base streak to seven games with a two-run double in the top of the first.
- All nine Jaguar starters hit safely in the game, with seven recording multiple hits. DeLaTorre finished 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and a career-high four RBIs. Davis added two doubles, two RBIs and one run and Perkins finished with two hits, including a double, and two RBIS.
- Montiel extended his on-base streak to 11 games with an RBI single in the top of the eighth.
- Lewis tied his career high with two hits, and also added two runs scored.
- Georgia Southern right-hander Tyler Owens (5-1) allowed five runs on eight hits with six strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings pitched in the loss.
- USA right-hander Chase Lambert (1-1) allowed seven runs on three hits with two strikeouts against five walks in three relief innings pitched in the loss.
- Eagle left-hander Hayden Harris allowed one run on two hits with one strikeout in 1 1/3 innings to record his seventh save of the season.

Head Coach Mark Calvi
- On the loss:
"We walked eight and we hit three. Too many free passes against a good club, that's a recipe for losing and that's what happened today. We didn't pitch well enough to win. We didn't play a complete ballgame. I thought we played good defense and swung the bats well, but we unfortunately didn't play a complete game. Where it matters most is on the mound, and it didn't happen today. We need to compete better on the mound. We need some guys to step up and do a better job of throwing strikes."  

NEXT UP
South Alabama will return to action Sunday when it faces Georgia Southern in the series finale at noon (CT).
 
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.