MONTGOMERY, Ala. - South Alabama (19-14, 6-6 SBC) dropped the first of two midweek contests in the season series in a late-game effort from Alabama State (15-16, 5-7 SWAC) on Wednesday night at Wheeler Watkins Baseball Complex.


PRIMARY THREADS

• The Jaguars struck first in the top of the second inning when shortstop Marc Stephens doubled down the left field line to plate Blake Guerin who reached on a single. Rett Johnson would take advantage of the runner in scoring position in the form of Robert Miranda who scored on Johnson's sacrifice fly as the second run of the frame.
• Making his eighth start of the season all of which in midweek contests was southpaw Hayden O'Dell, who retired a season-high 10 straight hitters starting in the first inning. A pair of hits in the home half of the fifth plated the first Hornet run of the evening.
• The Jags plated three runs in the seventh inning when catcher Duncan Mathews came up big with a two-out, bases loaded knock that scored two. Stewart Puckett followed up with a RBI knock of his own with Brennon Wright coming across to score.
• The Hornets punched back in the home half of the frame and put up five runs to grab its first lead of the night on four hits, and added one more on a two-out double in the eighth to make it 7-5 Alabama State, which would be the final.

KEY STATS

• Marc Stephens (1 RBI) and Duncan Mathews (2 RBI) both posted multi-hit nights in the setback with two hits apiece.
• Stewart Puckett recorded a knock and an RBI to push his hit streak to tie for his season-high of eight games.
• Hayden O'Dell delivered a season high six innings pitched for a no-decision with the following line: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K.
• The Jaguar bullpen allowed six earned runs in the loss.

QUOTABLE
HEAD COACH MARK CALVI
"We wasted a good start from O'Dell. We didn't hit or pitch well enough tonight. The last three innings, that's where we lost it in leverage innings. We didn't play good enough tonight and Alabama State beat us."


ON DECK
The Jaguars will continue its road swing opening a weekend series on Friday night at Georgia Southern at 7:30 p.m. (CT). The series continues on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. (CT), while the series finale is slated for 2:00 p.m. (CT).


FOLLOW THE JAGS
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