STATESBORO, Ga. (Interstat) — In a wild, back-and-forth Sun Belt Conference contest that defied pregame projections, the South Alabama Jaguars outlasted the Georgia Southern Eagles 13-12 on Sunday afternoon and evening at J. I. Clements Stadium, securing a crucial series victory.

The game, which began in the afternoon and concluded under the lights, saw the Jaguars (21-15, 3-3 Sun Belt) build a commanding 13-3 lead by the middle of the sixth inning, only to watch the Eagles (12-23, 2-4) mount a furious rally that fell just one run short.

South Alabama’s offense was keyed by third baseman Robert Miranda, who entered the game as a defensive substitute in the third inning and proceeded to deliver the decisive blows. After an RBI double in the fourth, Miranda launched a two-run homer to deep left field in the sixth inning, his second of the season, to push the Jaguar lead to ten runs. Miranda finished 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs, breaking out of a recent 1-for-7 slump.

The Jaguars’ early barrage was comprehensive. They scored three runs in the third inning, highlighted by an RBI single from Joseph Wright, then exploded for seven runs in the fourth. That inning featured a two-run double from Ethan Melton, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with two walks and two RBIs, Miranda’s two-run double, and a two-run homer from first baseman Blake Guerin.

Georgia Southern starter Daniel Gonzalez was charged with five earned runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings, but it was the South Alabama bullpen that nearly let the game slip away. After Gonzalez departed, the Eagles began their methodical comeback.

Jack Myers ignited the rally with a three-run homer in the fourth inning. Nico Senese added a solo shot in the sixth, and Brady Christman delivered the biggest swing of the Georgia Southern comeback—a three-run homer to left-center in the seventh inning that cut the deficit to 13-9.

The Eagles continued to chip away in the eighth, scoring three more runs on an RBI single from Bryson Trammell and a run-scoring fielder’s choice from Myers, pulling within a single run at 13-12. Trammell and Senese each had three of Georgia Southern’s 16 hits.

With the tying run on third and the go-ahead run on first in the eighth, South Alabama reliever Brian Garmon entered and induced an inning-ending pop-up. Garmon then worked a scoreless ninth to secure the save, stranding the potential tying run on third base after a sacrifice bunt and a groundout had advanced him.

The most critical sequence of the game came in the top of the ninth. With South Alabama clinging to its one-run lead, Georgia Southern turned to position player McCoy on the mound. The Jaguars put two runners on with one out, but McCoy induced an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play from Wright, snuffing out an insurance rally and giving his team one final chance.

South Alabama’s victory, which improved its record to 21-15, came despite grounding into two double plays. Georgia Southern, which fell to 12-23, executed two sacrifice hits in the loss. The combined 25 hits and 25 runs starkly contrasted the Interstat game simulator’s pregame projection of a 6-3 Georgia Southern win, though the Jaguars’ 55.6% win probability by the ELO system proved more accurate.

South Alabama next hosts Nicholls State on Tuesday. Georgia Southern travels to face Georgia Tech on Tuesday.