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MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama right-hander Miles Smith turned in a quality start and designated hitter Charles Middleton recorded five hits and drove in five runs in a 12-2 win over UTA Friday at Stanky Field to open Sun Belt Conference play.

Smith (4-0) allowed two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in six innings to earn his fourth win of the season. Right-hander Jackson Boyd tossed three scoreless relief innings, and struck out one without allowing a hit to record his third save of the year.

Middleton finished 5-for-5 with a double, one home run, five RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Jaguar offense, which posted 12 hits. 

UP NEXT
South Alabama (13-3, 1-0 SBC) will return to action Saturday when it hosts UTA (6-11, 0-1 SBC) at 6:30 p.m. in game two of the series at Stanky Field. 

GAME FACTS
- Will Turner doubled up the middle with one out in the bottom of the first, and Miles Simington followed with a walk before Charles Middleton lifted a 1-2 pitch from UTA right-hander Michael Wong over the left field wall for a 3-0 Jaguar lead.
- Cameron Tissue drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the second, stole second and scored on a one-out RBI single up the middle by Turner for a 4-0 lead.
- UTA cut the Jag lead to 4-1 in the top of the sixth on an RBI single up the middle by Oscar Ponce. A two-out RBI single to right field by Matt Cavanagh cut the USA lead in half at 4-2 later in the inning. 
- Middleton reached on a single to shortstop to lead off the bottom of the sixth, and advanced to third on a double down the left field line by Hunter Stokes. A wild pitch by UTA right-hander Matt Novis allowed Middleton to score for a 5-2 USA lead. Diego Altamirano delivered a two-out, two-run single to center field later in the inning to push the Jag lead to 7-2.
- USA loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the eighth on a leadoff single to right-center field by Cameron Tissue, and consecutive walks by Altamirano and Erick Orbeta. Turner followed with an RBI walk to plate Tissue for an 8-2 Jag advantage. Simington followed with an RBI groundout to first to score Altamirano for a 9-2 lead. Middleton then delivered a one-out, two-run double to left-center field for an 11-2. A sacrifice fly to right field by Santi Montiel scored pinch-runner Eli Runyan with the final run of the game.

NOTES
- Montiel's on-base streak was snapped at 19 games, and his hitting streak was ended at nine games.
- Simington extended his on-base streak to 14 games with a one-out walk in the bottom of the first, but had his hitting streak snapped at 13 games. 
- Middleton finished 5-for-5 with a double, one home run, five RBIs and two runs scored, marking the first time a Jaguar has recorded five or more hits in a contest since Michael Sandle recorded five on March 20, 2019, against New Orleans. Middleton's five RBIs are the first time a Jag has driven in five or more runs since Montiel finished with five RBIs against No. 14 Florida on June 4, 2021, at the NCAA Gainesville Regional.
- Boyd recorded his fourth consecutive scoreless appearance dating back to March 6 against Middle Tennessee. 
- Turner tied his career high in hits, finishing 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, two runs scored and one stolen base. Stokes went 2-for-4 with two doubles and one run scored. Altamirano finished with two hits, including a double, two RBIs and one run scored, and Simington and Montiel drove in one run apiece.

Head Coach Mark Calvi
- On the win:
"I thought Miles (Smith) did a nice job, and (Jackson) Boyd in behind him. The game starts on the mound, and pitching and defense were really solid. We got to a pretty good guy (UTA starter Michael Wong) early on, and had some really good at-bats throughout the night. But Miles was really good; he got a little tired in that last inning and was up around 90-something pitches. I knew he wasn't going to finish the game and it was time to get him out, and we went with Boyd who is one of our most reliable guys. Miles was better last week, and he will tell you that. To me, the mark of a real pitcher or bulldog is his stuff is OK, he doesn't have all of his pitches working, and he still gets outs and gets you into somewhat deep waters which is what he did tonight."

- On Charles Middleton:
"He was really good, and it is good too; we need him to get going. I couldn't be happier. He is such a great kid, and he works his tail off. He had a big night tonight."

Designated Hitter Charles Middleton
- On his performance:
"My teammates got on base, and I was just trying to drive them in; that's my job as DH."

- On his home run:
"He (Wong) went changeup-changeup then slider away. He tried to tunnel his fastball, which is a sinking fastball, off of it and it ran back across the plate and I put a good swing on it."

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