Box Score

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama homered four times to rally for a 7-5 win over Jacksonville State Sunday at Stanky Field.

USA (7-8) faced a 5-2 deficit through four innings, but scored five unanswered runs to clinch the win and avoid the three-game series sweep. Ethan Wilson hit two home runs in the game, while Santi Montiel and Tommy van de Sanden hit one home run apiece.

NEXT UP
South Alabama will return to action Tue., March 16, when it hosts Southern Miss at 6:30 p.m. at Stanky Field.

GAME FACTS
- JSU (7-8) loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first on consecutive one-out singles by Trevor Andrews and Alex Webb, and a walk by Jaylyn Williams. Jaguar right-hander JoJo Booker induced a popup into foul territory at first off the bat of Alex Strachan for the second out of the frame, but a wild pitch from Booker allowed Andrews to score the game's first run. Booker then escaped the inning with a groundout to second by Tanner Snow. 
- Cameron Tissue led off the bottom of the first with a single to right field, and advanced to third on a one-out double to right center field by Ethan Wilson. Michael Sandle followed with a two-run single to center field to score Tissue and Wilson for a 2-1 Jaguar lead. 
- JSU answered to tie the score 2-2 in the top of the third on an RBI groundout to second by Strachan, which scored Webb who reached on a one-out single earlier in the inning.
 - The Gamecocks took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth on a two-out RBI single to left center by Andrews that scored Tre Kirklin, who doubled earlier in the inning. Webb delivered a two-out, two-run double to center field later in the inning for a 5-2 JSU lead. 
- USA cut the JSU lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Wilson lifted a 1-1 pitch from JSU right-hander Camden Lovrich over the right field wall for a solo home run.
- The Jags cut the JSU lead to 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth when Santi Montiel lifted the first pitch he saw from JSU right-hander Jackson Tavel over the left center field wall for a solo home run.
- South Alabama tied the score 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh when Tommy van de Sanden lifted a 1-0 pitch from Tavel over the left field wall for a solo home run. Wilson followed with a solo home run to left field on a 1-0 pitch, his second of the game, for back-to-back home runs and a 6-5 USA advantage. Sandle singled up the middle, moved to third on a one-out single to right field by Reid Powers and scored on an RBI sacrifice bunt by Hunter Stokes for a 7-5 Jag lead.

NOTES
- Caleb Balgaard's consecutive starts streak was snapped at 14 games. 
- Ethan Wilson extended his hitting streak and on-base streak to five games each with a one-out double to right center field in the bottom of the first inning. 
- Wilson's solo home run in the bottom of the fifth marked his first home run of the season. His second home run marked the first time a Jag has hit multiple home runs in a game since Kaleb DeLaTorre's two at No. 23 Alabama on March 9 this season.
- Montiel's home run marked his second home run of the season.
- van de Sanden's solo home run marked his first career hit and home run as a Jaguar. It also marked the first Jaguar pinch-hit home run since Adam Wolfe on May 14, 2016, at Louisiana. 
- van de Sanden's and Wilson's back-to-back home runs marked the first time the Jags have hit back-to-back home runs since Feb. 19, 2019, against Alabama State when Montiel and Wilson accomplished the feat.
- Wilson's two home runs marked his fourthh career multi-home run game, and his first since March 6, 2020, at Arkansas. 
- Wilson recorded a career high in hits (4), finishing 4-for-4 with one double, two home runs, two RBIs and three runs scored.
- Sandle added two hits, two RBIs, one run scored and one stolen base.
-Jaguar right-hander Jase Dalton (3-1) struck out a career-high seven batters against two walks, and allowed four hits in 5 1/3 scoreless relief innings to earn the win.

QUOTES    
Head Coach Mark Calvi 
- On the win:
"Ethan (Wilson), Michael Sandle, (Hunter) Stokes had a big safety squeeze RBI, and Santi and Tommy van de Sanden with the home runs. I told these guys to stay ready, you never wen your number is going to be called. Today it was van de Sanden. He is a guy who shows up and works, and deserves it. Our guys deserve it, they played hard. Our guys haven't lost their confidence. They keep playing hard. I give Jacksonville State credit; they played really well the first two days. Our guys fought, and Jase Dalton was phenomenal coming in and picking up JoJo (Booker). We had to earn it, and it is good to get back in the win column."

Outfielder Ethan Wilson
- On his performance:
"Obviously to start the season I haven't been feeling great at all. Today wasn't different. I didn't really like my BP, but when I step in the box I am just focused on one thing and that is doing whatever it takes to help the team win. Today I made good contact. After the first hit, I kind of felt pretty good and knew that today was going to be a pretty good day."

- On the win:
"It was huge. Losing five in a row never feels good, losing one doesn't feel good. But we needed this going into the Southern Miss game (Tuesday), and obviously at UTA next week. I think to come from behind like we did is going to lead to some good things. I think this team is going to be good. This was definitely a spark for us, and we needed it."

RHP Jase Dalton
- On his performance:
"I expected to just go three or four (innings) like I normally do, but after that eighth inning I went up to Coach Calvi and told him I wanted to finish it. And I'm glad I got the opportunity. I just located the fastball and threw the slider off of the fastball."

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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