MONROE, La. - South Alabama (23-28, 12-18 SBC) survived the back and forth battle to claim the series over ULM (22-33, 8-22 SBC) to end the season.

The Jaguars jumped early, with runners at the corners advancing on a wild pitch to open up the scoring. John Smith IIi scored another on an RBI single. 

Rett Johnson led off the third inning with a solo opposite field homer to establish the 3-0 lead.

Zach Willingham took his start 5.0 innings, but was charged with three runs after the Warhawks struck back-to-back-to-back two-out hits in the fourth inning to tie the game, then took the lead with a fifth inning leadoff home run. 

A quiet sixth inning gave way to an explosion of offense for both squads in the seventh. The Jags loaded the bases after a walk and two hit batters. Greg Pettay tied the game with an RBI walk, while keeping the bases loaded. Johnson continued the merry-go-round with a single to the outfield to establish the lead. Duncan Mathews stepped up to the plate and hammered his second home run of the season for a grand slam. Mathews' grand slam, in tandem with Melton's, are the first time a Jaguar team has hit grand slams in consecutive games since February 18, 2017 against Eastern Illinois.

ULM responded in their half of the seventh with an RBI double, a groundout to score another, then an infield play that resulted in an error and another runner scoring. 

The Jags tabbed reliever Andrew Floyd to shut down the Warhawk offense for the final 1.1 innings, in which he fanned out the final batter in the eighth inning before heading into the ninth. Floyd commanded the last three outs, striking out the first two batters of the inning, then forcing a groundout to seal the game, 9-7.

Win: Jarrett Maresco (1-0)
Save: Andrew Floyd (5)
Loss: Brandon Brewer (3-2)

QUOTES
Head Coach Mark Calvi

On getting work in on their starter: Yeah, (Brennan) Eager, he really settled in. I was glad to get two runs off of him early, and then he really settled in. Then we got a third run in the third and, yeah, I thought he was really solid. He did a nice job. He really did a good job. He's going to be tough to deal with moving forward.

On the experienced pitching getting work today: Zach Willingham ]was really good today, especially early in the game. He was really good. And I, you know, (Jarrett) Maresco came in and was really, really good. You know, Garfield was just off today, a little bit. Garfield was just off a little bit, and Haley came in. But that's why you have other pitchers. That's why you have the bullpen. You know, Garfield was really good the last couple of weeks. He was off today, and Haley came in and bailed him out, and then, and then Floyd was really good.

On the team showing resilience throughout the end of the season and today: You know, Rett's back has been bothering him all year. And you know, Duncan's been a warrior behind the plate. And Rob Miranda, I thought he broke his ankle. You know, credit to him for staying there, and you know he's gonna be sore, but our guys were tough today, and they got behind each other and rallied and did a great job. 

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