Box Score

NATCHITOCHES, La. – Caleb Balgaard delivered a two-out, three-run home run to right field in the top of the ninth inning to lead the University of South Alabama baseball team to an 8-6 series-opening win over Northwestern State Friday at Brown-Stroud Field.

South Alabama (11-9) trailed 6-5 with two outs in the ninth, but a one-out single by Cameron Tissue and a two-out intentional walk to Ethan Wilson brought Balgaard to the plate with two outs. Balgaard then lifted a 1-0 pitch from NSU right-hander Alex Makarewich over the right field wall for the eventual game-winning runs. 

Jaguar right-hander Miles Smith (2-0) tossed four scoreless relief innings, and allowed one while striking out one without issuing a walk to record his second win of the season. 

NEXT UP
South Alabama will return to action Saturday when it faces Northwestern State at 2 p.m. at Brown-Stroud Field.

GAME FACTS
- NSU took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a two-out RBI single through the left side of the infield by Jake Haze.
- The Demons looked to take a three-run lead in the bottom of the third when Daunte Stuart doubled to the left center field with one out, but an 8-4-2 Jaguar relay from Michael Sandle to Hunter Stokes to Reid Powers at the plate cut down Cam Sibley attempting to score from first.
- USA tied the game 2-2 in the top of the fourth on a two-run home run to right field by Ethan Wilson on a 1-0 pitch from NSU right-hander Johnathan Harmon that also scored Sandle, who reached on a hit by pitch to lead off the inning. Caleb Balgaard reached on a two-base throwing error by Stuart, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single through the left side of the infield by Powers for a 3-2 lead.
- NSU took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out, two-run double to left center field by Lenni Kunert.
- The Demons pushed their lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth on a pinch-hit RBI single down the third base line by Peyton Davis. A one-out RBI double to right center field by Kendall Foster doubled the NSU lead to 6-3.
- USA answered in the top of the seventh on a one-out, two-run double to left center by Cameron Tissue that scored Santi Montiel and Noah Bailey, who reached on consecutive walks, to cut the NSU lead to 6-5.
- Tissue reached on a one-out single to right field then moved to second with one out, which allowed NSU to intentionally walk Wilson. Balgaard then hit the second pitch he saw from Makarewich over the right field wall for a three-run home run, which marked his team-leading fifth homer of the season.

NOTES
- Ethan Wilson extended his on-base streak to 10 games with a two-run home run to right field in the top of the fourth. 
- Sandle extended his on-base streak to seven games when he reached on a hit by pitch to lead off the top of the fourth, but had his hit streak at six games.
- Smith retired the final 11 batters he faced in the game, and finished with four scoreless relief innings to earn the win.
- Balgaard went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Jags at the plate. 
- Wilson finished 1-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs, two runs scored and two intentional walks.
- Tissue added two hits, including a double, two RBIs and one run scored, and Powers finished with two hits and one RBI. 

QUOTES    
Head Coach Mark Calvi 
- On the win:
"It was a big one. (Caleb) Balgaard has had his hand in those in a couple this spring. It just looms a little bit larger because of the way we have dumped some games. It looked like it was kind of happening again in the sixth inning. There were some self-inflicted wounds, but our guys kept fighting. We talked about keeping energy for 27 outs, and it's not over until it's over. But our guys had really good energy, they played hard and stayed locked in. If we clean up a couple of defensive mistakes, I like the direction that we're going. Some guys are starting to swing the bat a little bit better, we have some confident guys with poise on the mound and we have some good hitters. The guys had some good at-bats tonight; I think Mike (Sandle) probably saw 30 pitches tonight, and that gives the hitters behind you a chance to see more pitches over in the on-deck circle. We had some productive outs to help score some runs. We're having much better at-bats, and I like the way our guys are digging in. We've been outstanding on the mound all year long. I told the guys that our wounds are mostly self-inflicted, and if we can clean that up I like the direction we are going."

- On Jeremy Lee and Miles Smith:
"I felt like it was the right time (to go the bullpen in the sixth inning), but Jeremy (Lee) deserved a little better fate. We made a couple of defensive mistakes that extended an inning, but I have seen Jeremy sharper and he will tell you that. Miles coming in, he has been doing that for us all year long. He is a four-pitch starter who is coming in and relieving games and closing; he's done an outstanding job for us and I have all the faith in the world in him and Jeremy. We have some guys who are versatile that can go long and short relief or start, and Miles is one of those guys. He has a lot of poise, and when you have a pitcher out there with poise that makes everyone else feel good. And the two guys tonight have poise. It was good to see Miles pick up the win, and our guys fought like crazy."

Outfielder Caleb Balgaard
- On his ninth-inning home run:
"I got a changeup middle-away that was a little down in the zone. Before I stepped into the box, I said a little prayer to not try to do too much – I didn't want to be a hero there. I put a good swing on it, I just wasn't trying to do too much with it."

RHP Miles Smith
- On his performance:
"I just wanted to keep the game where it was when they brought me in – just try to do my job. Our offense was starting to get hot, and my job coming out of the bullpen was to keep it there. Every time I go out there I try to be in the same zone and be the same guy every day. I try to have all my pitches working, and if one doesn't then I will go to another pitch. I just try to fill up the zone and let my defense work behind me. My best pitch tonight was my changeup; I had a lot of swing-and-misses on it. My slider located really well, and I used my fastball off of those pitches. When Balgaard hit the home run, it was time to shut down the game. He has been big for us all year. I just had to go out there and finish the job. We were originally going to bring in Sammie (Tyler Samaniego), but I told Coach Calvi to leave me in because I felt like my stuff was good tonight."

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