NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — South Alabama shortstop Michael Young and left fielder Rett Johnson delivered back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning Wednesday to lift the Jaguars to a 4-2 victory over New Orleans at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

The win improved South Alabama to 27-18 overall and avenged a 2-1 loss to the Privateers on March 31 in Mobile. New Orleans dropped to 18-29.

Starting pitcher Hayden O’Dell earned the win for South Alabama, tossing five innings of no-hit ball while allowing two earned runs and striking out six. O’Dell, who had allowed four hits and one earned run over 5.1 innings in a victory against Lamar on April 22, kept the Privateers off the scoreboard until the fourth.

New Orleans took the lead in the bottom of the fourth when shortstop Jase Curley homered to right field, making it 1-0. The Privateers extended the advantage in the fifth. Second baseman Isaiah Tidwell tripled to deep center field and scored on a single to right by third baseman Colby Hepworth. The hit gave New Orleans a 2-0 edge.

South Alabama responded immediately in the top of the sixth. Young led off with a solo home run to left field, cutting the deficit to 2-1. After designated hitter J.R. Richardson struck out, first baseman Cole Stephens walked. Johnson then launched a two-run homer to deep left field, giving the Jaguars a 3-2 lead.

The Jaguars added an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Left fielder Grant Wright singled on a bunt, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by center fielder Kade Mathews, and scored on a single to center by right fielder Brennen Puckett. Puckett advanced to second on the throw but was left stranded.

South Alabama’s bullpen held the lead. Jacob Haley pitched two scoreless innings, striking out four and allowing no hits. Andrew Floyd worked a perfect eighth with one strikeout. Jaxon Shineflew closed the ninth, allowing one hit and striking out three. The trio combined for four innings of one-hit relief.

The Privateers used seven pitchers. Jack Garvey started and tossed two shutout innings, allowing one hit. Gus Rogers, William Andrade, and Tyler Velino each saw action. Velino, who pitched 1.1 innings, surrendered the two runs in the sixth. New Orleans outhit South Alabama 6-8, but the Jaguars grounded into two double plays to limit the Privateers’ opportunities.

Young finished 1-for-4 with a home run and a run batted in. Johnson went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBIs. Puckett singled and drove in a run. For New Orleans, Curley homered, Tidwell tripled, and Hepworth singled and drove in a run. Cummings singled twice and stole a base in the seventh.

The game was played at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, a neutral-site venue used for the matchup. South Alabama next travels to Texas State for a three-game series beginning Friday. New Orleans opens a series at Nicholls State on Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of South Alabama 7, New Orleans 4. Interstat’s ELO system had projected South Alabama with a 63.90 percent probability to win.