MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama fell to Nebraska 5-4 in Friday's series opener at Eddie Stanky Field.

Nebraska left-hander Emmett Olson (1-1) allowed two earned runs on two hits, and struck out five with two walks in 5 1/3 innings pitched to earn the win. Right-hander Kyle Perry tossed a scoreless ninth inning to record his first save of the season. Jaguar right-hander Jeremy Lee (0-1) allowed four runs on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks in five innings pitched to suffer his first loss of the season.

USA (4-2) took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second on a two-run single by JG Bell, but Nebraska (1-3-1) answered with a pair of runs in the top of the third for a 3-2 lead and never trailed in the game from that point. The Cornhusker bullpen combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings without allowing a hit. Jaguar relievers Danny Diaz, Zach Harlan and Grant Wood combined to allow just one run on one hit, and struck out four while issuing four walks.

Jaguar right fielder Colson Lawrence hit his first career home run at South Alabama, and JG Bell finished with one hit and two RBIs. Max Anderson went 2-for-3 with one RBI to lead Nebraska at the plate. 

How It Happened
•    (T2) Garrett Anglim delivered a two-out solo home run to left-center field for the first run of the game, 1-0 Nebraska.
•    (B2) South Alabama loaded the bases with two outs on a walk by Tyler Borges, Austin Thrasher reached on a throwing error by Nebraska shortstop Brice Matthews and Colson Lawrence reached on a hit by pitch. JG Bell then singled to left field to score Borges and Thrasher for a one-run Jaguar lead, 2-1 USA.
•    (T3) A one-out RBI single up the middle by Max Anderson tied the score, tied 2-2.
•    (T3) An RBI groundout to second off the bat of Ben Columbus gave the Cornhuskers a one-run lead, 3-2 Nebraska.
•    (T5) The Cornhuskers doubled their lead on an RBI groundout to second by Ben Columbus, 4-2 Nebraska.
•    (B5) USA cut the Nebraska lead to one run on a leadoff solo home run to left-center field by Colson Lawrence, 4-3 Nebraska.
•    (T6) Nebraska loaded the bases in the top of the sixth and took a two-run lead when Columbus reached on an RBI hit by pitch, 5-3 Nebraska.
•    (B6) The Jags loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth on a one-out walk by Cole Ketzner, hit by pitch to Diego Altamirano and two-out hit by pitch to pinch-hitter Joseph Sullivan. A wild pitch from Nebraska right-handed reliever Shay Schanaman allowed Ketzner to score and cut the Cornhusker lead to one run, 5-4 Nebraska.
 
Up Next
South Alabama returns to action Saturday when it hosts Nebraska at 2 p.m. at Eddie Stanky Field.
 
Quotes
Head Coach Mark Calvi 
- On the loss:
"We had two hits and one was a home run. We had some guys on (base) and one hit would have changed the game, but we didn't get it. The fifth and sixth (innings) got us; the overthrow at first, the hit by pitch with the bases loaded and the ball that blew back that dropped into right field. That was the game right there. We need to swing the bat better. Their (Nebraska) pitcher (Emmett Olson), in my opinion, you might look up in three to five years and see him pitching in the big leagues. He was very good. We had our chances tonight, we just didn't maximize our opportunities in the leverage innings of the ballgame. We just didn't get it done when we needed to tonight. We weren't clean defensively. I thought Jeremy (Lee) probably deserved a better fate, but we got two hits and we need to match up a little better offensively with those guys and tonight it just didn't happen. We'll move on and get ready to go tomorrow."

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