Box Score
Photo Gallery


MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat Gonzaga 2-0 in Friday's series opener at Stanky Field.

Michael Sandle delivered a two-out RBI single down the right field line in the bottom of the eighth, and Preston Welchel reached on a fielding error by GU first baseman Gabriel Hughes to allow the game's final run to score. Three Jaguar hurlers also combined to record USA's second consecutive shutout.

South Alabama (6-5) will return to action Sat., Feb. 29, when it hosts Gonzaga at 1 p.m. at Stanky Field. 

 GAME FACTS
- Gonzaga loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fifth inning on consecutive two-out singles by Brett Harris and Tyler Rando, and a hit by pitch to Ryan Sullivan. But Jaguar right-hander Drake Nightengale recorded an inning-ending strikeout of Jack Machtolf to end the threat and preserve a scoreless tie.
- USA loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the sixth on three consecutive singles by Santi Montiel, Ethan Wilson and Reid Powers. GU left-hander Mac Lardner struck out Michael Sandle for the first out of the inning, and a missed suicide squeeze with Bennett Shell at the plate allowed the Bulldogs to put out Montiel at the plate with the second out of the frame. 
- The Bulldogs loaded the bases with one out in the top of the eighth on a leadoff double by Machtolf, hit by pitch to Stephen Lund and one-out intentional walk to Mason Marenco. Right-hander Jase Dalton induced a popup to catcher off the bat of Josh Bristyan for the second out of the frame, and induced an inning-ending flyout to right field by Ernie Yake to escape the jam and preserve a scoreless tie.
- Montiel reached on a one-out walk in the bottom of the eighth, and moved to second on a two-out single by Powers. Sandle followed with a two-out RBI single down the right field line to plate Montiel for a 1-0 Jaguar lead. Welchel pinch-hit and reached on a fielding error by GU first baseman Gabriel Hughes on a grounder to first that allowed Powers to score with the game's final run. 

NOTES
- Wilson extended his on-base streak to six games when he reached on a hit by pitch in the bottom of the first inning, and extended his hit streak to six games with a single to center field in the bottom of the sixth. 
- Sandle extended his on-base streak to six games with a leadoff walk in the bottom of the second, and extended his hit streak to six games with a two-out single up the middle in the bottom of the fourth.
- Andrew Bates recorded his first hit of the season, which came in the form of a one-out single to right-center field in the bottom of the fifth.
- Powers extended his hit streak and on-base streak to six games apiece with a single in the bottom of the sixth. 
- Dalton (1-0) tossed 1 2/3 scoreless relief innings, allowing one hit with two walks to earn his first win of the season.
- Left-hander Tyler Lehrmann pitched a perfect ninth inning and struck out one to record his first career save.
- Nightengale tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings, and allowed three hits with 10 strikeouts against a pair of walks without factoring in the decision.
- Sandle finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Powers went 2-for-4 with a run scored to lead the Jags at the plate.
- The victory extended South Alabama's win streak to four games, and marked its second straight shutout.

QUOTES
Head Coach Mark Calvi
- On the win:
"Those were two real Friday night guys throwing tonight. Their (Gonzaga) guy (Mac Lardner) was as advertised. He gave Arkansas trouble; he is very good. It is any pitch in any count, but our guy (Drake Nightengale) and all of our guys were good. Drake Nightengale was really good, and Jase Dalton came in there with a great effort and (Tyler) Lehrmann at the end. We had some chances and so did they. It went our way at the end. Michael Sandle struck out with the bases loaded in his at-bat before, and a younger Mike might put his head down a little bit, but he kept grinding, the game came back to him and he got a big base hit for an RBI. And (Preston) Welchel put the ball in play, and we got the right hop to go ahead and get an insurance run."

Outfielder Michael Sandle
- On his RBI single in the eighth inning:
"You're supposed to flush your previous at-bats, and obviously I was up with bases loaded and no outs and struck out. I knew I would have another chance, I just didn't know what the situation would be. I just wanted to get it to the next guy, and it worked out well for us."

NEXT UP
South Alabama will return to action Sat., Feb. 29, when it hosts Gonzaga at 1 p.m. at Stanky Field.

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.