Some first-inning lightning and a complete game from pitcher Randy Bell on Friday put South Alabama in the winner's bracket of the NCAA Hattiesburg Regional.
The third-seeded Jaguars scored three runs in the first inning -- including a leadoff homer by Dylan Hardy -- on their way to a 6-3 victory over No. 2 seed Mississippi State at Pete Taylor Park. Travis Swaggerty homered and drove in four for South Alabama (40-19), which has now won six straight and 11 of its last 12.
South Alabama advances to face top-seeded Southern Miss (49-14) at 6 p.m. Saturday.