BIRMINGHAM, AL — Southern erupted for five runs in the opening inning Friday night and never relinquished control, defeating Texas Southern 6-4 at Rickwood Field to advance in the 2026 Southwestern Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament.
The Jaguars improved to 29-22 overall while eliminating Texas Southern, which closed its season at 21-24. Southern capitalized on defensive miscues and aggressive base running early before its bullpen preserved the victory down the stretch.
Southern wasted little time setting the tone in the first inning. Ryan Hunter opened the frame with a double, KJ White Jr. followed with a bunt single, and the Jaguars used patience at the plate along with Texas Southern errors to build a 5-0 advantage. Kameron Byrddrew an RBI walk, Kenyon Hughes added an RBI single, and Donny Sandifer delivered a sacrifice fly during the decisive outburst.
The Jaguars finished with eight hits and eight walks while forcing four Texas Southern errors.
Hunter paced Southern offensively by going 2-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base, while White added two hits and stole two bases. Hughes also recorded two hits and drove in a run, and Byrd scored once while adding an RBI and two walks. Xavier Bradley contributed a double and scored twice.
Southern's pitching staff pieced together a strong effort despite allowing eight hits. Genesis Prosper earned the win after tossing three innings in relief, allowing one run on three hits. Caleb Ellis worked the final three innings for his seventh save of the season, striking out three and holding off a late Texas Southern rally.
Texas Southern chipped away with two runs in the third inning and another in the fifth to trim the deficit to 5-3. Anthony Ruiz led the Tigers offensively, going 2-for-4 with two RBI's, including an RBI single in the fifth. Shaun Williams added an RBI single in the eighth to make it a two-run contest.
Southern answered with an insurance run in the seventh inning when Bradley scored on a double-play ball after Texas Southern committed two errors in the inning.
The Jaguars' biggest keys to victory were their explosive first inning, disciplined approach at the plate, and ability to pressure Texas Southern defensively. Southern also stranded 10 Tiger runners and turned timely outs late to secure the win.
Keys to Victory
- Explosive first inning: Southern scored five runs in the opening frame and immediately seized momentum, forcing Texas Southern to play from behind the entire game.
- Patience at the plate: The Jaguars drew eight walks and consistently pressured Texas Southern pitching throughout the night.
- Capitalizing on mistakes: Southern took advantage of four Texas Southern errors, turning defensive miscues into crucial early runs and an insurance run in the seventh inning.
- Bullpen stability: Genesis Prosper and Caleb Ellis combined for six solid innings in relief, limiting Texas Southern to two runs while Ellis closed the door for his seventh save.
- Aggressive base running: KJ White Jr. stole two bases, and Ryan Hunter added another as Southern created scoring opportunities with pressure on the base paths.
Outstanding Players
- Ryan Hunter: Went 2-for-5 with a double, a run scored, and a stolen base while setting the tone offensively from the leadoff spot.
- KJ White Jr.: Finished 2-for-3 with a run scored, two stolen bases, and a walk, helping ignite Southern's first-inning rally.
- Kenyon Hughes: Collected two hits and an RBI, including a key run-scoring single during the five-run opening inning.
- Kameron Byrd: Reached base three times with a hit, two walks, and an RBI while scoring a run.
- Genesis Prosper: Earned the win after allowing just one run over three innings of relief work.
- Caleb Ellis: Recorded his seventh save by pitching the final three innings and striking out three batters to secure the victory.
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