STATESBORO, Ga. - South Alabama (21-15, 8-7 SBC) held on after a big lead was brought to within one-run in the ninth, but topped Georgia Southern (12-23, 5-10 SBC) in the rubber game to secure the series on Sunday at J.I. Clements Stadium by a 13-12 final score. Brian Garmon II closed the door with a punchout in the bottom of the ninth with the Eagles' tying and winning runs in scoring position.


PRIMARY THREADS

• Brennon Wright got the Jaguars on the board first in the top of the third inning, when he collected his fifth RBI of the weekend on a base-hit to right field to drive in Ethan Melton.
• The Jags scored a season-high seven runs in the fourth inning, getting started on Ethan Melton's second double of the afternoon, good for two RBI. Wright grabbed his sixth RBI of the weekend knocking in Johnson with a ground ball on the infield who advanced to third on the Melton double. Robert Miranda plated his first two RBI of the afternoon with a double down the left field line. Blake Guerin cleared the bases on his 13th homer of the season that towered into the trees to left center for his longest of the season, 445 ft.
• The Eagles responded with a three-run homer in the bottom of the frame to cut the Jaguar lead to 8-3 after four.
• Rett Johnson stayed red hot and hit his third homer in his previous five at-bats in the fifth. All three homers of the weekend for Johnson were solo shots.
• Robert Miranda tagged his second homer of the season when he collected his fourth RBI of the afternoon in the sixth. The homer marked the eighth long ball of the weekend for the Jaguars.
• Two more Jaguars crossed in the seventh. The first run was Johnson who scored for the third time on the afternoon on a passed ball, followed by a Duncan Mathews RBI single back up the box that allowed Wright to score.
• The Eagles battled back strong in the seventh and eighth innings with a combined seven runs and brought the game back to a one-run contest, 13-12 Jaguars.
• The bottom of the ninth saw the tying and winning Eagles' runs in scoring position with two-outs, but Brian Garmon II shut the door and clinched the series for the Jaguars with a punchout.

KEY STATS

• 13 runs on 14 Jaguar hits was just enough to get the job done on Sunday. The offense combined for three homers and 12 RBI, while four different players recorded multi-RBI games.
• The Jags hit eight home runs in a series for the second time this season (USC-Upstate). It was the 40th home run of the season for South Alabama.
• Ethan Melton reached base safely in all five plate appearances. Posted a 3-3 day with two RBI, two walks and scored twice.
• In the sixth inning, Rett Johnson hit his third homer in his previous five at-bats. Johnson entered the weekend set at Georgia Southern with one long ball on the season and left with four.
• Blake Guerin's 13th HR was the longest Jaguar big fly of the season at 445 ft. Guerin has homered in eight of nine weekend series this year.
• Robert Miranda entered for Stewart Puckett in the third inning and tagged a two-RBI double and a two-run shot for a team-best four RBI.
• Daniel Gonzalez (W, 4-2) earned his fourth win of the season with the following line: 5.3 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K. Gonzalez has gone 5.0+ IP in seven of nine starts.
• Brian Garmon II earned his second save of the year in a five-out outing with two strikeouts.

QUOTABLE
HEAD COACH MARK CALVI
"Brian Garmon has kept after it. Last week was a tough one at the end, and Garmon has kept his head up, kept working and had the right thoughts. We talked about thinking the right thoughts make or break you, and Garmon continued to think the right thoughts. I'm so happy for him. Duncan Mathews had back spasms this weekend on one hour of sleep last night and was a brick wall behind the plate. Robert Miranda came in with four RBI and made some unbelievable plays on defense. Just proud of our guys, they did a great job. They kept battling all game long and we needed every single run."


ON DECK
The Jaguars will open an eight game home stand with the second and final game of the season series with Nicholls State when it visits Stanky Field on Tuesday, April 14 at 6:30 p.m. (CT).


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