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MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama right-hander Jeremy Lee tossed seven scoreless innings and struck out eight without issuing a walk to lead the Jaguars to a 5-3 win over Southern Miss Tuesday at Stanky Field.

Lee (1-0) allowed just three hits and fanned eight without issuing a walk in seven innings to earn his first career with at South Alabama. Left-hander Tyler Samaniego tossed 1 1/3 scoreless relief innings and struck out a career-high four batters to record his first career save at USA. Jaguar outfielder Caleb Balgaard homered and drove in three runs to lead South Alabama (2-2) offensively.

 GAME FACTS
- Southern Miss (2-2) threatened with a pair of runners at the corners with one out in the top of the fourth, but Jaguar right-hander Jeremy Lee rolled a 5-4-3 inning-ending double play to end the threat and preserve a scoreless tie. 
- USA scored the game's first run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Michael Sandle reached on a fielder's choice with one out, moved to second on a walk by Reid Powers and advanced to third on a wild pitch. USM right-handed reliever Tyler Stuart struck out Santi Montiel with two outs, but a wild pitch on the third strike allowed Montiel to reach first and Sandle to score from third for a 1-0 Jag lead.
- South Alabama pushed its lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning on a one-out, three-run home run to left field by Caleb Balgaard on a 3-2 pitch from USM right-hander Stuart that also scored Hunter Donaldson and Ethan Wilson, who reached on a leadoff double and intentional walk, respectively. 
- Southern Miss loaded the bases in the top of the eighth and cut its deficit in half on a sacrifice fly to right field by Reed Trimble, and an RBI single to left field by Christopher Sargent. A two-out pinch-hit RBI double down the left field line by Michael Wein cut the Jag lead to 4-3.
- USA added the game's final run in the bottom of the eighth when Santi Montiel singled to center field, and advanced to second on an error by Trimble in center field, which allowed Hunter Stokes, who reached on a bunt single to third, to score from first.

NOTES
- Freshman Hunter Donaldson earned his first career start, which came in right field.
- Jaguar right-handed starter Jeremy Lee retired the first 10 batters he faced in the game before Trimble reached on a one-out double off the left-center field wall in the top of the fourth inning.
- Ethan Wilson earned his first start of the season, which came in the role of designated hitter.
- The win marked South Alabama's third straight over Southern Miss dating back to 2019. 

QUOTES
Head Coach Mark Calvi
- On Jeremy Lee:
"He was just outstanding. He has poise, and has been really good since the day he stepped foot on campus. Jeremy was good tonight. The guys played great behind him, and I thought Jeremy was phenomenal. It was as good a start as I have seen a freshman have in a long time."

- On the win:
"Any win is big. Southern Miss is an outstanding program. They have some really good players, have a very good pitching staff, especially on the weekend, and they are coached well. They're going to win a lot of games. This was big for us. Every win is big in college baseball. You have to win as many as you can, and I'm very proud of our guys' effort tonight."

NEXT UP
South Alabama will return to action Fri., Feb. 26, when it faces Oral Roberts at 3 p.m. in Tulsa, Okla.

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).

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