MOBILE, Ala. (Interstat) — South Alabama defeated Arkansas State 7-2 Friday night at Eddie Stanky Field, evening the Sun Belt series after the Red Wolves’ shutout win a day earlier.

The Jaguars pounded out 14 hits and used a balanced pitching effort to overcome an early deficit. Arkansas State struck first in the top of the second inning when Evan Griffis homered to left center. South Alabama answered in the third with a two-run homer by Stewart Puckett and an RBI triple from Mike Young to take a 3-2 lead. Marc Stephens added a solo homer in the fourth.

Arkansas State cut the lead to 4-2 in the sixth on Derek Martinez’s RBI double, but South Alabama pulled away in the seventh. Stephens walked with the bases loaded to force in a run, and Paxton Bigby walked to bring home another. Blake Guerin singled in a run in the eighth for the final margin.

Jaxon Shineflew earned the win, allowing one earned run on three hits with six strikeouts over five innings. Zach Stevens followed with four innings of relief. Cooper Garrison tossed 2 1/3 hitless innings for the Red Wolves, who managed seven hits.

The Jaguars improved to 32-21, while Arkansas State dropped to 29-23.