Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

University of South Alabama Athletics

Navigation Curve divider
#OURCITY
Duncan Mathews
Courtney West/South Alabama Athletics
7
S.C. Upstate S.C. UPS 0-1
16
Winner South Ala. SOUTH AL 1-0
S.C. Upstate S.C. UPS
0-1
7
Final
16
South Ala. SOUTH AL
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
S.C. Upstate S.C. UPS 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 4 0 7 10 1
South Ala. SOUTH AL 1 2 4 0 2 3 0 4 X 16 15 0

W: Shineflew, Jaxon (1-0) L: C. TORRES (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Jaguars Explode for 16 Runs in Opening Day Victory vs. Spartans

MOBILE, Ala. - South Alabama saw huge offensive production throughout the lineup in Friday night's 16-7 victory on opening day over USC Upstate.
 
PRIMARY THREADS
  • After a scoreless first inning from Jaguar Friday night arm Mitchell Heer, his battery mate in Duncan Mathews sailed a 409 foot homer over the left-center field wall to staple the first run of the Jaguar 2026 season.
  • Heer would go on to throw three scoreless innings before returning senior Mike Young lasered a line drive three-run home run that snuck over the left field wall, to grab a 7-0 lead in the early going.
  • After a single and two walks from the Jaguar fifth year, he found himself exiting the game with returning southpaw Jaxon Shineflew to take his place in a bases loaded, no out jam. Shineflew struck out the first two hitters he saw before Upstate shortstop Maloy Heaghney singled up the middle to plate two.
  • Two-out hitting was the story of the next two consecutive home halves, with Brennon Wright finding real estate down the left field line to drive in two in the bottom of the fifth. Center fielder Ethan Melton cashed in three RBI's when he roped a double down the left field line to clear the bases in the sixth.
  • South Alabama and USC Upstate would each score four in the eighth before senior right-hander Andrew Floyd took the ball in the top of the ninth to close it out in 1-2-3 fashion.
 
KEY STATS
  • Duncan Mathews homered in his first at-bat of the season and scored twice, logging a 1-3 day with two walks.
  • Mike Young was just a double away from South Alabama's first cycle since 2005, posting a 3-5 day with a homer, triple, and single while scoring four times.
  • Marc Stephens, Blake Guerin, and Rett Johnson each had doubles of their own to tack on to a five-double total on the day for the Jaguars
  • Jaxon Shineflew carded the win throwing four innings while allowing eight hits, five earned runs, and six punchouts.
 
QUOTABLE
HEAD COACH MARK CALVI
On team energy and offensive performance:
 
"Our returners are a huge part of who we are. They're leaders. They fed off each other and played with each other really well, and the energy and the dugout was outstanding."
 
On Jaxon Shineflew's character:
 
"When he came in, he had the look in his eye with the bases loaded. He knew the game was on the line right there, and he was at his best."
 
ON DECK
The Jags are set for a 2:00 p.m. first pitch tomorrow, Feb. 14. Junior southpaw Max Miller will make his Jaguar debut while junior right-hander Brent Stukes is the probable for Upstate.
 
FOLLOW THE JAGS
For complete coverage of University South Alabama baseball, follow the Jaguars on social media @SouthAlabamaBSB (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaAthletics (Facebook), @southalabamabsb on Instagram, or visit the official home of South Alabama athletics at USAJaguars.com.
 
—USA—
 
Print Friendly Version