MOBILE, Ala. - The Jaguars let loose in the middle innings to set the tone, shutting out the Cougars over the final seven innings in the 5-2 win.

Jaxon Shineflew gave 4.2 innings as a starter, striking out seven along the way before passing the baton to Mitchell Heer. Heer recorded the win in 3.1 innings of work not allowing a single walk or an extra-base hit. In the seventh inning, Heer's persistence paid off, catching a runner off guard to clear the bases before drawing a flyout to end the inning.

By that time, Hector Mangual had leveled a 390-foot homer in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead in half, and Kyle Morrison rocked a two-out, two-run homer to take the lead. Cole Ketzner announced his return in triumphant fashion with a second, two-out, two run home run to solidify the lead.

With a three run lead, the Jags took to the bullpen for their designated closer in redshirt senior John Gillis. Gillis proceeded to draw a backwards K and a flyout, before diagnosing the final batter with his second strikeout looking.

South Alabama has now won their last four season openers, all in comeback fashion. 

Win: Mitchell Heer (1-0)
Save: John Gillis (1)
Loss: Spencer Stearns (0-1)

QUOTES
Heach Coach Mark Calvi

On having eight batters reach base tonight:  Yeah, yeah, we did. You know, obviously Hector's home run got us on the board. We're down 2-0, the guy (Spencer Stearns) was, I knew he wasn't gonna go nine innings against us, you know, I thought we could get to him. We just knew he wasn't gonna walk anybody. He just does not walk you. So the walk was out of play, like it might have been one tops for him. Hector, with the home run, got us to 2-1. We left some guys on. We got doubled off with a bunt. We need to clean that up.

On the bullpen's performance tonight: Yeah, outstanding. You know, typically, I want to stay as good or get better as the game went along and that was the case tonight. You know, Mitch (Heer) could start. We've got some guys coming out of the pen this weekend that could start, but with four games and a couple guys nicked up I just felt as though putting Mitch in the bullpen, putting (Zach) Willingham in the bullpen gives us some older guys with some depth and experience and three to four pitches for strikes. I thought Gillis was really good. It was his first save situation. I thought he was solid. And we still have some guys down there that can close it out. You know, we've got Floyd and some other good arms down there in the pen for the next three games.

UP NEXT
South Alabama will turn around and face Kent State on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in leg two of the South Alabama Invitational.

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