Wallace, Fargas leads Southern Past UNO

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Stephen Wallace recorded four hits and drove in six runs while Pedro Fargas pitched three innings of perfect baseball as the Jaguars defeated UNO 9-4 Wednesday night at Lee-Hines Field.

Southern (22-14) extended its current win streak to seven games as the Jaguars move closer to next month's SWAC baseball tournament in Baton Rouge.

"We did a lot of things right, right off the bat," said head baseball coach Roger Cador. "And when that happens it gives you a tremendous advantage so you can coast a little, which you never like to, but invariably it's going to happen."

The Jaguars posted three runs in the first two innings powered by solid at bats. After Taylor Roy's lead- off double, Brian Rowry reached first after being hit by the pitch. Derrick Hopkins singled; scoring Roy before Cameron McGriff singled loaded the bases for Wallace.

Wallace blasted Alex Smith pitch into the wall in right- centerfield for a two RBI double to give the Jaguars a 3-0 lead at the end of the first inning. Wallace's double down the left field line in the second inning scored two more runs after Cameron McGriff singled to score Roy.

"He had a really good approach to the ball and he had really good success," said Cador." Without those six runs he knocked in, we would be in trouble."

Wallace finished 4-for -5 at the plate with six RBI's, including a solo home run that towered over the left field wall in the bottom of the sixth inning.

As the Jaguars built a 6-0 cushion, starting pitcher Danny Garcia held UNO scoreless for the first three innings but eventually gave up four runs and eight hits in six innings on the mound. Freshman Pedro Fargas relieved Garcia in the top of the seventh and retired the final nine batters for the Privateers.

(Pedro) did more than ok, I thought he had really good life on his fastball," said Cador. "He threw two or three good changeups so it really is a good momentum and confidence builder for him."

Of the nine batters Fargas faced in the final three innings, the 6-3, left-handed pitcher struck out four.

Southern prepares for a pivotal division series on the road at Prairie View which may decide the SWAC western division race and the division's No.1 seed in the SWAC baseball tournament.

COURTESY Britany Brown, Media Relations Student Assistant, SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF SPORTS INFORMATION