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MOBILE, Ala. – Jacksonville State scored five runs in the sixth inning en route to an 8-2 series-clinching win over University of South Alabama baseball Saturday at Stanky Field. 

JSU (7-7) faced a two-run deficit through five innings after USA (6-8) scored in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Michael Sandle, and doubled its lead at 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run by Sandle. But the Gamecocks homered twice in its five-run sixth inning, and added runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.

NEXT UP
South Alabama will return to action Sunday when it hosts Jacksonville State in the series finale at 1 p.m. at Stanky Field.

GAME FACTS
- USA scored the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning. Caleb Balgaard singled through the right side of the infield, and scored on a two-out RBI single by Michael Sandle on a ball up the middle that ricocheted off of JSU right-hander Dylan Hathcock into shallow right field. 
- The Jaguars doubled their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Michael Sandle lifted a 2-2 pitch from Hathcock over the left field wall for a solo home run, which marked his first of the season. 
- JSU cut the Jaguar lead in half at 2-1 in the top of the sixth on a leadoff solo home run to left field by Nash Adams. Cole Frederick and Trevor Andrews reached on consecutive singles before Alex Webb tied the score 2-2 with an RBI single to right field. Jaylyn Williams followed with a three-run home run to left field for a 5-2 Gamecock advantage. Carson Crowe then drew a walk, Tre Kirklin singled up the middle and Javi Ramirez reached on a hit by pitch to load the bases with one out. USA right-hander Miles Smith induced a popup to first off the bat of Adams for the second out of the frame, and struck out Frederick to end the inning.
- JSU pushed its lead to 6-2 in the top of the seventh on an RBI single to left field by Williams.  
- A one-out RBI single to left field by Andrews in the top of the eighth extended the Gamecock lead to 7-2.
- JSU scored the game's final run in the top of the ninth on a one-out RBI single through the left side of the infield by Ramirez. 

NOTES
- Jaguar left-hander Tyler Lehrmann allowed a leadoff single in the top of the second, but then retired 12 consecutive JSU batters before allowing a leadoff solo home run to Adams in the top of the sixth. Lehrmann allowed four runs on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk in five innings pitched to suffer his first loss of the season.
- Sandle's solo home run in the bottom of the fourth marked his first home run of the season.  
- Brandon Auerbach extended his on-base streak to three games with a one-out walk in the bottom of the seventh inning.
- Ethan Wilson extended his hitting streak and on-base streak to four games with a one-out single up the middle in the bottom of the eighth inning.
- Right-hander Carson Hall made his Jaguar debut with a relief spot in the top of the ninth inning, and recorded his first career strikeout.

QUOTES    
Head Coach Mark Calvi 
- On the loss:
"(Tyler) Lehrmann, Miles (Smith) and Carson Hall all came in and competed today. Lehrmann did a really nice job. I give Jacksonville State credit, they put some good swings on some good pitches. Miles did a nice job for the most part, which he has done all year long for us. Our pitching has been fine all year long. Jacksonville State is going to win a lot of games. They have a very good offense, and they are a very sound and experienced club. 

"We got eight hits today and we lined out nine times. It could be a little different if four of five of those find a hole or get down, but right now that's how it is going. I told the guys that they fought like crazy, and you just have to keep fighting. The game comes back to the players who act the right way, and you have to be ready when it comes back to you and you have to capitalize. Right now it is tough, it seems like nothing is going our way. But we have to make our own breaks and keep working hard. We have a great group, and we'll come out ready to play tomorrow."

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