BATON ROUGE, LA— Southern erupted for 16 hits and used a pair of big innings Friday night to overpower Alabama A&M 13-7 at Lee-Hines Stadium, extending its conference winning streak to 14 games while clinching its fifth straight SWAC weekend series.
The Jaguars can complete the series sweep Saturday afternoon after scoring four runs in the first inning and breaking the game open with a five-run fourth. Southern finished with six players recording multiple hits and four players driving in at least two runs.
Kameron Byrd paced the Jaguars offensively, going 2-for-5 with four RBI's, including a two-run single during Southern's opening inning. Glenn Green III added a home run, double, and three RBI's, while Ryan Hunter drove in three runs and scored twice. KJ White Jr. collected three hits, and Luis Ayala added two hits and two runs scored.
Southern wasted little time taking control. Byrd's two-run single highlighted a four-run first inning before Green blasted a solo homer in the fourth to spark a five-run frame that pushed the lead to 9-1.
Alabama A&M answered with four runs in the fifth and added two more in the sixth to trim the deficit to 10-7, but Southern's bullpen settled in over the final three innings. Jayden Lawrence and Caleb Ellis combined to hold the Bulldogs hitless over the last three frames while striking out three.
The Jaguars added insurance in the eighth inning when Byrd drove in a run on a groundout, Kenyon Hughes followed with an RBI single, and Green doubled home another run to cap the scoring.
Southern starter Myles Dismute earned the win after striking out five over 4 1/3 innings. The Jaguars' pitching staff combined for 10 strikeouts despite issuing 11 walks.
By the Numbers
- Southern out-hit Alabama A&M 16-10.
- The Jaguars scored nine runs over the first four innings.
- Southern produced seven extra-base hits, including Green's homer and doubles from Jaylon Lucky and Green.
- Byrd, Green, and Hunter combined for 10 RBI's.
- Southern has now won 14 straight SWAC games and five consecutive conference series.
Keys to Victory
Fast Start: Southern scored four runs in the opening inning and never trailed.
Middle-Inning Explosion: The Jaguars plated five runs in the fourth inning behind seven hits, highlighted by Green's homer and Hunter's two-run single.
Balanced Offensive Attack: Six Southern players recorded at least two hits as the Jaguars consistently pressured Alabama A&M pitching.
Bullpen Finish: Lawrence and Ellis shut down the Bulldogs over the final three innings to secure the victory.
Southern will look to complete the weekend sweep and continue its late-season surge Saturday when the Jaguars host Alabama A&M in the series finale at 3 p.m. on Senior Day at Lee-Hines Stadium. The match-up will also mark the final regular-season home game for Southern's senior class as the Jaguars aim to carry momentum into the closing stretch of SWAC play.
