MOBILE, Ala. – Sean Laird homered twice and drove in five runs as South Alabama cruised to a 16-2 victory over Northwest Florida State Sunday afternoon at Stanky Field.

Northwest Florida State took an early lead a pair of runs off Jags’ starter Miles Ethridge, but USA answered with three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-2 lead. Ryan Bohanan got the Jags started with a triple, and Derek O'Reilly brought him in with a sacrifice fly. Laird put two more runs on the board with a homer to left field. That proved to be all the insurance USA’s pitching would need.

Nathaniel Lami led off the third with a solo homer, then the Jags put on an offensive showcase in the bottom of the fourth. The first four Jags to come to the plate combined to hit for the cycle to extend USA’s lead to 7-2. Chris Davis doubled, Jake Overstreet singled and Derek O'Reilly tripled to bring in both runners. Laird followed with his second two-run homer of the day to complete the cycle.

Clint Reynolds followed with an infield single, then David Doss and Bohanan each added RBI-singles before Davis came to bat a second time in the inning and delivered another run on a fielder’s choice.

Ethridge left after allowing two runs in three innings of work, and four Jag relievers combined to limit the Raiders’ lineup to no runs on four hits through the final six innings. Chris Brown worked one inning, Michael Raia pitcher two frames, Doss added two more innings, and Greg Johnson finished the job by working a scoreless ninth.

Despite leading 12-2, USA came to bat in the bottom of the ninth to allow both teams to throw nine innings on the mound. The Jags plated four more runs, three of which were unearned, on RBI-singles from Laird and Stuart Barton, and a two-run double off the bat of Zach Grichor.

Laird’s five RBI were the most of any USA player, but eight different Jags drove in runs, and nine Jags scored at least one run. Bohanan joined Laird as the only Jags with three hits on the day.

Notes: Both teams agreed to allow open substitution during the game ... Barton was inserted into the lineup as a 10th hitter in the bottom of the eighth inning, but the box score does not reflect his at bat because the scorebook allows for only nine batters ... the Jags skipped one spot in the batting order at the start of the bottom of the ninth ... Bohanan finished the weekend with seven hits in 10 at-bats, while O’Reilly added six hits in 11 at-bats ... O’Reilly also drove in six runs, while Laird led the way with seven RBI ... Reynolds and Grichor were each 2-for-2 stealing bases, making them the only Jags to steal multiple bases on the weekend ... the Jags outscored their opponents 40-8 over a combined 21 innings ... 10 different Jags saw action on the mound, and none allowed more than two runs.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).