Box score


HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Phillip Byrd struck out a career-high seven batters in 5 1/3 innings to lead University of South Alabama baseball to a 5-3 win over Southern Mississippi Tuesday at Pete Taylor Park.

Byrd (1-0) scattered eight hits and allowed three runs with one walk, along with his seven strikeouts, in what was his first start since his freshman season in 2009.

“I felt pretty good, but I knew I just had to compete and fill up the zone,” Byrd said. “I had three pitches working tonight and I had a lot of confidence. I just tried to execute and win every pitch. It was a great team win today; I feel like we’re starting to jell as a team. We had some sacrifices and guys coming up with some hits in clutch situations. And (Kyle) Bartsch did a great job coming in and sealing the win.”

Kyle Bartsch earned his second save of the season with 3 2/3 shutout innings, allowing just two hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

South Alabama (4-8) scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 4-1 lead through 4 1/2 innings. Hudson reached on a hit by pitch to lead off the inning. After stealing second, he scored on an RBI single to left-center by Whitt Dorsey to give the Jags a 2-1 lead. USA loaded the bases later in the inning on an infield single by Graham Odom and catcher’s interference on Nolan Earley. Dorsey later scored on a wild pitch, and Odom then scored on an RBI single by Nick Zaharion which pushed the USA lead to 4-1.

USM cut the Jaguar lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Ellis, and scored its second run of the inning on a Jaguar error to cut the USA lead to 4-3.

The Jags added the game’s final run in the top of the seventh inning when Drew Cofield grounded into a double play with the bases loaded that scored Earley from third.

Dorsey went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored to lead South Alabama at the plate. Zaharion added two hits and an RBI.

USM right-hander Taylor Nunez (1-1) suffered the loss in 4 1/3 innings pitched, allowing two runs on three hits with three strikeouts and one walk.

Michael Sterling, Mason Robbins, Blake Brown and Dillon Day had two hits apiece for Southern Miss.

USA jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Nunez in the top of the second inning when Brad Hook tripled to left-center field and later scored on an RBI groundout off the bat of Dorsey.

Southern Miss (8-5) tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the third when Travis Creel led off the inning with a walk and later scored from third on a wild pitch.

South Alabama will return to action Wed., March 7, when it hosts Nicholls State in a 6:30 p.m. contest at Stanky Field.

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