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Jags Win
3
S.C. Upstate S.C. UPS 1-2
7
Winner South Ala. SOUTH AL 2-1
S.C. Upstate S.C. UPS
1-2
3
Final
7
South Ala. SOUTH AL
2-1
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 0 3 0 0 0 3 7 0
South Ala. SOUTH AL 0 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 X 7 8 0

W: Gonzalez, Daniel (1-0) L: M. BIANCHINI (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Jaguars Take the Series in Opening Weekend Rubber Match Over USC Upstate

MOBILE, Ala. - South Alabama (2-1) took the rubber match against USC-Upstate (1-2) in its opening weekend series at Stanky Field by a score of 7-3 on Sunday afternoon.
 
PRIMARY THREADS
  • The Jaguar offense struck first in the bottom of the second by way of a Paxton Bigby two-run homer, sent 440 feet to right field.
  • In the top of the third, Gonzalez walked three and loaded before delivering a huge strikeout to get out of the two-out jam. Daniel Gonzalez threw five scoreless innings and was credited with the win in his first appearance as a Jaguar.
  • The middle of the third saw tensions rise, when skippers for both sides got ejected after an argument at home plate.
  • The offensive fireworks sparked in the bottom of the third when Duncan Mathews hit his third homer of the series and surpassed his single season career high in just three games of the 2026 campaign. After Stewart Puckett was hit by a pitch and Bigby singled to center, Mike Young delivered his second homer of the year and cashed in three RBI in the process. The long ball stuck around for Blake Guerin who went back-to-back with Young, sending his to the opposite field to total five runs for the Jaguars in the inning.
  • Jaguar southpaw Jake Middleton took over in the sixth, but Upstate plated three in the inning by way of a two-RBI single and one RBI-double. Middleton bounced right back and put up zero's in the seventh and eighth before righty Collier Barham closed the door in the ninth to secure the series, both arms making their Jaguar debuts.
 
KEY STATS
  • Duncan Mathews delivered a 2-4 day with a home run and a single.
  • Paxton Bigby hit his second homer of the series in a 2-4 effort with two RBI and scored both times he reached base.
  • Mike Young collected his second homer and fifth hit of the series in a 2-4 showing alongside a team-best three RBI.
  • Blake Guerin delivered his first homer as a Jaguar.
  • Gonzalez (W, 1-0) went 5.0 IP, 2 H, 4 BB, 7 K's in the win. Upstate's Max Bianchini (L, 0-1) allowed seven earned runs in 2.2 innings of work.
 
QUOTABLE
HEAD COACH MARK CALVI
On the production from the battery:
 
"Gonz (Daniel Gonzalez) was outstanding today. He can pitch backwards and forwards and held the run game completely. He can pitch. And you can't say enough about Duncan Mathews. He caught 27 innings this weekend, tough as nails, and a couple home runs."
 
On the energy of the Jaguar dugout:
 
"The guys had energy all weekend, it was phenomenal. We got their backs, and they have ours, and we're happy to be 2-1 against a really good club. We got some things to clean up, but I'm happy to close out the weekend."
 
ON DECK
The Jaguars will hit the road to Nicholls State on Tuesday for a midweek matchup in Thibodaux, La., slated for a 6:00 p.m. first pitch.
 
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—
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