In a game that saw Colonel pitchers hit seven batsmen and walk eight, the South Alabama Jaguars defeated Nicholls 10-6 Tuesday evening at Didier Field. USA got on the board in the third inning, scoring six runs on four hits, three walks and two hit batters.

“Against good teams, you can’t give up free passes,” head coach Chip Durham said. “We had a combined 14 hit batters and walks, and seven of those came around to score. We’re not going to beat anybody pitching like that.”

Brandon Sage notched the win for South Alabama, improving to 1-1 on the season. He struck out five Colonel batters through five innings of work.

Justin Breaux falls to 0-2 with the loss for Nicholls. He lasted just 2.1 innings, surrendering six earned runs.

South Alabama scored two in the fifth and two in the seventh to take a 10-2 lead to the bottom of the seventh.

The Colonels battled, scoring a run in the third, fifth and seventh innings and adding three in the bottom of the ninth, but Jaguar insurance runs proved to be the difference.

“I was proud of our guys offensively,” Durham said. “We battled, just like I know we can. We put together 11 hits against a good club, and we improved defensively.