Box Score

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Little Rock used a four-run fifth inning and a quality start from right-hander Aaron Funk to defeat the University of South Alabama baseball team 4-2 Saturday at Gary Hogan Field.

Little Rock (14-13, 5-3 SBC) clinched the series with the win, and will attempt to sweep the three-game series in Sunday's series finale.

NEXT UP
South Alabama will return to action Sunday when the face Little Rock at 1 p.m. in the series finale at Gary Hogan Field. 

GAME FACTS
- USA took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Caleb Balgaard lifted a 1-2 pitch from Little Rock right-hander Aaron Funk over the right field wall for a solo home run, which marked his sixth of the season.
- Little Rock took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning on a two-run home run to right field by Noah Dickerson. An RBI double by Kobe Barnum extended the Trojan lead to 3-1. A one-out RBI single to right field by Nathan Lyons pushed the Little Rock lead to 4-1.
- Michael Sandle singled through the right side of the infield with one out in the top of the eighth, advanced to third on a double down the left field line by Ethan Wilson and scored the final run of the game on an RBI groundout by Reid Powers.

NOTES
- Montiel's on-base streak was snapped at 10 games.
- Stokes' on-base streak was snapped at seven games. 
- Wilson went 3-for-3 with a double to lead the Jags at the plate.
- Right-hander Tyler Perez tossed four scoreless relief innings, and struck out a career-high seven batters without issuing a walk while allowing two hits.
- Balgaard finished 1-for-3 with a home run, one RBI and one run scored, and Powers drove in one run.

QUOTES    
Head Coach Mark Calvi 
- On the loss: 
"(Matt) Boswell was really good through four innings. He was handling them (Little Rock), and we misplayed a leadoff out and then they hit the home run. I thought Boswell was outstanding for four innings. That four-spot happened so quickly, and (Tyler) Perez was outstanding as well. Both of those guys, aside from the fifth inning, gave us a chance to win. Both of them gave the effort – four earned runs on a Saturday is a pitching staff giving you a chance to win. We had some opportunities and left some guys out there (on base). We need to pressure the opposing team more offensively than what we have. We did some of that last weekend, but we have not done enough of that this weekend."

- On the series finale:
"We just need JoJo (Booker) to be the same version of himself; that is plenty good enough. We need to be a better version of ourselves offensively. But JoJo doesn't need to change a thing. He needs to go out there and make pitches like he has done, work fast, minimize free bases and attack like he has done for the better part of the whole year."

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.