CHARLESTON, S.C. - A brief rain delay to start the series opener did not dampen the offense as the Jaguars run-ruled the Cougars on Friday night in seven innings, 16-2. All nine Jaguar starters collected hits and scored in six out of the seven frames in the victory.

PRIMARY THREADS

• The scoring got started in a Cougar defensive miscue that scored Brennon Wright and Duncan Mathews, who reached on a single and a walk to leadoff the game in the first. A Mike Young single plated shortstop Marc Stephens before Blake Guerin drove in Paxton Bigby with an RBI single. The fifth and final run of the first inning scored on a Rett Johnson sacrifice fly to center.
• Friday night arm Mitchell Heer started his night with a five-run cushion and delivered an impressive outing with the win to his credit in 6.0 innings of two run ball, five hits, and two punchouts.
• The second inning was the only frame of the night the Jaguars did not score, but resumed in the third for one run before Stewart Puckett hit his first homer of the year and in three-run fashion in the fourth inning.
• Timely and situational hitting from the top of the Jaguar order in Brennon Wright and Marc Stephens added three runs in the fifth, both with RBI singles, and a mammoth solo shot from senior first baseman Blake Guerin put an exclamation point on the South Alabama victory in the sixth inning.

KEY STATS

• All nine Jaguar starters collected hits in the win, with 14 total and 16 runs.
• Coming into this contest, the Jaguar offense ranks 11th in the country and leads the Sun Belt in home runs (9) and hit two more tonight to total 11 in five games.
• The offense is averaging 10.6 runs per game, and this is the second game this season they've put up 16 runs (opening day, USC Upstate).
• Mike Young leads the team in hits, with 10 in the five game span and three homers.
• Mitchell Heer (W, 1-0, 3.50 ERA) records his first win of the season. Charleston right-hander Hayden Thomas (L, 0-1, 6.35 ERA) took the loss in 2.1 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 2 ER.

QUOTABLE
HEAD COACH MARK CALVI
"There's a lot of series left, and that's what I told our guys. They know it. Tonight was our night. We played well, don't get me wrong, we earned it. We did a good job of keep playing the game the right way, and we expanded and kind of ran away and hit. All I ask is that they play hard and they execute situational baseball like they've been coached to execute on the bases, in the box and in the field. Situational baseball is huge."

ON DECK
The Jags are set for a 1:00 p.m. (CT) first pitch tomorrow, Feb. 21. Junior southpaw Max Miller will take the hill for the Jags while right-hander Carson Bryant is the probable for Charleston.

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