MOBILE, Ala. -- South Alabama held off a late rally to take a 5-4 win over visiting New Orleans on Saturday at Stanky Field.
Garrett Harris (4-2) tossed 8 2/3 innings, and Lance Baxter stranded the potential tying run at third base, as the Jaguars (20-10, 9-2 Sun Belt Conference) clinched the weekend series.
USA designated hitter Adam Heisler went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Jake Overstreet and Sean Laird each tallied two hits. The Jaguars, who have won five of their last six, recorded nine hits overall.
Jim McGonigle (2-2) took the loss for UNO (8-17, 1-10), which dropped its sixth straight SBC game. McGonigle allowed seven hits and five runs in seven innings. The junior right-hander held the Jaguars hitless in his final three innings.
Ryan Eden hit a solo home run in the ninth inning for UNO, and Rodarrick Jones went 2-for-3 with a run scored. The Privateers were held to just six hits, with three coming in the ninth.
USA jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings and took a 5-2 lead in the fourth following back-to-back run-scoring hits from Clint Reynolds and Heisler.
UNO, meanwhile, could not figure out Harris -- who allowed just three hits in the first eight innings.
The Privateers made it interesting in the ninth, though, as Eden led off the frame with a solo home run to left field. Nick Schwaner and Nolan Church recorded back-to-back hits to put the potential tying run on base.
After Schwaner scored on a sacrifice fly by Mike Petello, pinch-runner Craig Schnell stole second and moved to third on a passed ball.
But Baxter, who relieved Harris after Petello's sacrifice, got Jay Morris to pop out to shortstop Brandon Brown -- who made a beautiful catch in shallow center field to end it.
The two teams will wrap up the series at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
