Box Score

MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama right-hander Miles Smith struck out a career-high 11 batters in a career-best 7 2/3 innings pitched to lead the Jaguars to a 4-2 series-opening win over Georgia State Friday at Stanky Field. 

Smith (3-0) allowed two runs on six hits with 11 strikeouts without issuing a walk to earn his third win of the season. Right-hander Jeremy Lee tossed 1 1/3 scoreless relief innings and struck out two to record his first career save.

NEXT UP
South Alabama will return to action Saturday when it hosts Georgia State at 6:30 p.m. at Stanky Field.

GAME FACTS
- South Alabama jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Michael Sandle doubled to left field with one out, and scored one batter later on an RBI single through the right side of the infield by Ethan Wilson. Reid Powers followed with a single to right-center field before a sacrifice fly to right field by Kaleb DeLaTorre scored Wilson to double the Jag lead at 2-0.
- USA loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the third on a single by Sandle, hit by pitch to Ethan Wilson and walk by Reid Powers. DeLaTorre then laid down a two-run suicide squeeze sacrifice bunt to plate Sandle and Wilson for a 4-0 lead.
- The Panthers cut the USA lead in half in the top of the eighth with a two-out, two-run double to right field by Griffin Cheney.

NOTES
- Reid Powers extended his on-base streak to six games with a one-out single in the bottom of the first. 
- Tissue's home on-base streak was snapped at 10 games.
- Stokes' home on-base streak was also snapped at 10 games.
- Smith's 11 strikeouts are the most by a Jaguar since Jeremy Lee struck out 11 at UT-Arlington on March 19 this season. 
- Lee made his first relief appearance since tossing one scoreless inning against Southeast Missouri. 
- GSU starting pitcher Cameron Jones (0-6) allowed four runs on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks in a complete-game effort in the loss. 
- The win extended South Alabama's win streak to six games, and extended its win streak against GSU to five games.

QUOTES    
Head Coach Mark Calvi 
- On Miles Smith:
"Miles (Smith) was outstanding. That's as gutsy a start as I've seen in a while. He has four pitches and is a starter by trade, but he has kind of fit best in middle relief behind Jeremy Lee. It was a reversal of roles tonight, and we knew Jeremy was going to pitch if it was a ballgame like that. It kind of gets guys back on track. You keep student-athletes health at the forefront and your number-one interest. I am so proud of both of those guys. Miles Smith was just phenomenal tonight."

- On the offense:
"That freshman (GSU pitcher Cameron Jones) did a heck of a job. We knew what he was. He really settled in and started locating to his glove side with fastballs in on righties and had the changeup going, and fastballs away to lefties with a decent slider. We did enough in the first (inning) with two runs, and two in the third with the double-squeeze by (Kaleb) DeLaTorre. It's about touching home plate more than the other team, and we did tonight."

RHP Miles Smith
- On his performance:
"Early (in the game) it was just fastball command in and out, and then I located my slider a couple of times that got a few contact outs. I just tried to locate in and out with my fastball, and I threw some changeups in there too to get them (GSU) off balance."

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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