Box Score (PDF)

BOONE, N.C. – The University of South Alabama baseball team scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat Appalachian State 5-4 Sunday at Beaver Field and secure the three-game series sweep.

With the score knotted at 3-3 through eight innings, Jaguar shortstop Santi Montiel delivered a one-out solo home run to left field for a 4-3 USA advantage, and Michael Sandle's RBI single provided the eventual game-winning run after Appalachian State (21-27, 12-14 Sun Belt) scored the game's final run in the bottom-half of the ninth on a sacrifice fly.

South Alabama (29-22, 15-12 Sun Belt) will return to action Tue., May 14, when it travels to New Orleans for a 6:30 p.m. contest at Tulane.
 
GAME FACTS
- App State (21-27, 12-14 Sun Belt) scored the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning. Tyler Leek led off the frame with a single to left field, and later scored on a wild pitch from Jaguar right-hander Tyler Perez for a 1-0 lead.
- The Mountaineers doubled their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly to center field by Phillip Cole.
- App State loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fourth on a single to center field by Luke Allison, an infield single to third by Leek and a walk by Bailey Welch. But Jaguar left-hander Jared Proctor induced an inning-ending groundout to shortstop off the bat of Cole to keep the Jaguar deficit at two runs.
- South Alabama answered in the top of the fifth inning. Dakota Dailey reached on a hit by pitch to lead off the inning, and moved to third on a two-out single to right field by Reid Powers. Nick Lewis then lifted the first pitch he saw from Mountaineer right-hander Jason Cornatzer for a 3-2 Jaguar lead.
- Appalachian State responded in the bottom of the fifth when Kendall McGowan led off the inning with a home run to left-center field to tie the game at 3-3. Cole followed with a single to right field, and moved to second on a walk by Joel McDaniel. A sacrifice bunt by Robbie Young advanced both runners into scoring position with one out, but Jaguar right-hander Nick DeSantis got Riley Smith to pop up to shortstop for the second out of the frame and struck out Allison to end the threat and preserve a 3-3 tie.
- South Alabama took a 4-3 lead in the top of the ninth when Santi Montiel lifted a 3-2 pitch from App State right-hander Kaleb Bowman over the left field wall for a one-out solo home run. Reid Powers followed with a double to right-center field, and scored on an RBI single down the left field line by Sandle for a 5-3 Jaguar advantage.
- The Mountaineers scored the game's final run on a sacrifice fly to right field by McDaniel.

NOTES
- Carter Perkins extended his on-base streak to five games with a single in the top of the second.
- Dailey extended his on-base streak to five games with a hit by pitch to lead off the top of the fifth.
- Lewis extended his on-base streak to five games with a three-run home run in the top of the fifth, and recorded a career-high three RBIs.
- Sandle extended his on-base streak to 15 games with a leadoff walk in the top of the sixth.
- Jaguar right-hander Nick DeSantis (5-2) tossed 3 2/3 scoreless relief innings, and allowed three hits while striking out three without issuing a walk to earn the win.
- Right-hander Zach Greene allowed one run on one hit and issued one walk in one inning pitched to record his program-record 13th save of the season. Greene passed former Jaguar left-hander Kyle Bartsch (12) and right-hander Mike Nakamura (12) on the program's single-season saves list for the most saves in a season.
- The win marked the Jaguars eight consecutive victory, as well as their ninth straight win over App State.

Head Coach Mark Calvi
- On the win:
"We didn't have as many hits as the last two days, but we had some timely hits. You don't expect to get 15 hits in a conference game, and you cherish it when you do. Every run is crucial. Today, pretty good pitching and defense kept us in the ballgame and allowed us to scratch a few (runs) and pull away late. Nick Lewis' three-run home run was big. We had a couple of chances in the sixth (inning) with runners at the corners and one out, and didn't get a good read on a safety (squeeze) and then we had a popup. But Santi (Montiel) with the home run, then Reid Powers with a double and Michael Sandle drove him in. Our guys kept their heads in the ballgame all day long. (Jared) Proctor came in when they (App State) had some momentum. The wind was blowing out to left (field) pretty good, and he held it together for 3 1/3 innings. He gave up two runs, and there we were in the fifth inning down just two runs. We just felt like if we could keep it close and just hang around – today was a day you have to hang around. Even though you're behind early, you have to hang around and try to win the last half, last third or the last inning and that's what our guys did today."

- On the team's focus over the weekend:
"They were focused yesterday. We originally started with an early game, and it got pushed back to the afternoon because of the weather. A lot of credit to the App State coaching staff for keeping us informed; they did a great job. We kept the guys informed, and they just stayed focused. You could see that their minds were on playing and winning, and nothing else. I'm proud of them this weekend."

NEXT UP
South Alabama will return to action Tue., May 14, when it travels to New Orleans for a 6:30 p.m. contest at Tulane.

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.