MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama used a solo home run by Carter Sanford and two RBI singles by Miles Simington with two outs and stellar bullpen pitching to top ULM, 3-1, Saturday night to claim the weekend series at Stanky Field.
 
Sanford led off the third inning with a solo homer to center to put South Alabama (29-20, 15-11 Sun Belt Conference) on top, 1-0. Later in the inning, Simington hit an RBI single with two outs to plate Will Turner for the 2-0 advantage.
 
ULM (16-33-1, 6-19-1) struck for a run in the bottom of the fifth inning as Ryan Cupit scored on Grant Schulz's RBI fielder's choice, bringing ULM within 2-1. However, Schulz was stranded at second base to end the inning.
 
USA answered in the bottom of the inning as Simington's second two-out RBI single brought home Erick Orbeta to push the lead back to two, 3-1.
 
Both bullpens dominated, limiting opportunities over the final four innings. Jackson Boyd (2-1) earned the win for USA, throwing 4 2/3 shutout innings, allowing just two hits with four strikeouts and one walk. Both hits were by Trace Henry, who finished with three hits on the night to lead ULM.
 
Cole Cressend suffered a tough-luck loss, allowing three runs on five hits with two walks and no strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. Carson Orton allowed a hit with two strikeouts in 2/3 of an inning, while Tyler Lien fired three shutout innings, allowing just one hit with four strikeouts and three walks.
 
Cupit also had two hits for ULM. Simington, Santi Montiel and Sanford had two hits each for USA.
 
The series wraps up at 1 p.m. Sunday.