STATESBORO, Ga. (Interstat) — Brady Christman launched a three-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night, capping a dramatic comeback and lifting the Georgia Southern Eagles to a 5-3 victory over the South Alabama Jaguars in a Sun Belt Conference series opener at J. I. Clements Stadium.

The win improved Georgia Southern to 12-21 overall, while South Alabama fell to 19-15.

The game’s defining moment came with one out in the final frame. South Alabama reliever Shineflew, who entered after starter Mitchell Heer’s brilliant outing, struck out McCoy to begin the inning. Sean White then singled to center and advanced to second on an error. Pinch-runner Thompson stole third, and Bryson Trammell walked to bring Christman to the plate.

Christman, the Eagles’ designated hitter, worked the count before driving a pitch deep over the left field wall for his fifth home run of the season, erasing a 3-2 deficit and setting off a celebration at home plate. He finished the night 3 for 4 with three RBIs.

The comeback overshadowed a masterful performance by South Alabama’s Heer. The right-hander dominated through 7 2/3 innings, allowing no hits and just two earned runs while striking out eight. His only blemish was a two-run homer to Trammell in the fourth inning. Heer exited with a 3-2 lead after 104 pitches, having held the Eagles hitless.

South Alabama had built its lead early. In the top of the first, Stewart Puckett connected for a solo home run, his sixth of the year, off Georgia Southern starter Will Holder. The Jaguars added a run in the fourth on an RBI walk by Melton and another in the sixth on a groundout by Wright that scored Marc Stephens, who went 3 for 3.

Georgia Southern’s bullpen was pivotal in keeping the game close after Holder allowed two runs on two hits over four innings. Craig Kalkbrenner worked 3 1/3 innings of relief, yielding one run on six hits. Brady Pendley then earned the win with 1 2/3 perfect innings of relief, striking out three.

The Eagles’ defense turned three double plays to stifle Jaguars’ rallies, while South Alabama turned two of their own behind Heer.

The victory defied the pregame projections. Interstat’s ELO system had given South Alabama a 55.3% probability to win, and its game simulator had predicted a 6-4 Georgia Southern victory.

The two teams continue the three-game series Saturday.