MOBILE, Ala. – Home runs accounted for all the scoring Friday as South Alabama defeated visiting SIUE 5-2 on opening night of the 2025 college baseball season.  

Mack Mitchell gave the Cougars a lead in the second inning. With Daniel Gierer on at second, Mitchell launched a long home run to straight left for the 2-0 advantage.

South Alabama cut the lead in half in the fourth when shortstop Hector Mangual led off the inning with a home run off SIUE starter Spencer Stearns. Kyle Morrison connected on a two-out, two-run homer in the fifth to put the Jags on top 3-2.

Stearns (0-1) allowed three earned runs on seven South Alabama hits. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter.

Cole Ketzner hit the third Jaguars home run in the sixth, tagging Cougar reliever Kyle Athmer for a two-run shot to for the final 5-2 margin. They were the only runs that Athmer surrendered in three innings of relief. He gave up two hits, walked three and struck out three.

SIUE managed just five hits against three South Alabama pitchers. Kyle Ratliff finished with two hits while Chase Bloomer and Ryan Niedzwiedz.

Jaguars reliever Mitchell Heer (1-0) threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the win. He allowed three hits and struck out one. Morrison and Ketzner each had two hits for South Alabama.

The Cougars continue the weekend in Mobile Saturday when they'll face former Ohio Valley Conference foe Eastern Kentucky. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.