MOBILE, Ala. (Interstat) — Mitchell Heer struck out 11 over seven dominant innings and Michael Young launched a first-inning grand slam as South Alabama overpowered Louisiana Tech 9-3 on Friday night at Eddie Stanky Field.

The Jaguars, improving to 11-3, erupted for six runs in the bottom of the first inning to seize immediate control. After Bulldogs starter Declan Dahl loaded the bases with one out, Young cleared them with a towering home run to left field, his four-RBI blast staking South Alabama to a 5-0 lead. Rett Johnson followed two batters later with a solo shot to right-center, capping the decisive rally.

That barrage provided more than enough support for Heer. The right-hander, coming off a win over West Georgia on Feb. 27, allowed only three hits and three earned runs, all coming on a third-inning homer by Louisiana Tech’s Cade Patterson. Heer walked two and retired the final 13 batters he faced before handing the ball to the bullpen.

The most important part of the game was undoubtedly South Alabama’s explosive first inning. Facing an early deficit after Louisiana Tech failed to score in the top half, the Jaguars sent 11 men to the plate. The inning featured five hits, including the two home runs, and fundamentally broke the game open before many in the crowd had settled in. The six-run cushion allowed Heer to attack the zone aggressively, and the Bulldogs never seriously threatened after Patterson’s three-run homer briefly cut the lead in half.

Louisiana Tech, which fell to 8-7, managed just four hits total. Patterson’s home run accounted for all three runs and three RBIs. The Bulldogs used five pitchers, with Kade Parker, Connor Nation and Luke Nichols combining for 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.

South Alabama added insurance runs in the fourth and eighth innings. Duncan Mathews drove in two runs on a 3-for-4 night, including a sacrifice fly. Brennon Wright also had three hits and an RBI.

Jaguars reliever Jaxon Shineflew closed the game with two perfect innings, striking out two.

The victory defied the pregame projections from Interstat, whose ELO system had given Louisiana Tech a 51 percent probability to win and whose simulator had predicted a narrow 7-6 South Alabama victory.

The two teams continue their three-game series on Saturday.