DAPHNE, Ala. — United States Sports Academy scored twice in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday to defeat Xavier University of Louisiana 4-3 in the opener of a three-game baseball series.
        The Eagles (4-0) and Gold Rush (0-1) will play a 1 p.m. CST Saturday doubleheader — two seven-inning games — at Daphne Sports Complex (7060 Park Drive, zip code 36526) just east of Mobile.
        It was the debut of XULA head coach Xavier Paul, who played six seasons of Major League Baseball (2009-14) and joined the Gold Rush in November. USSA's Eagles are in their first season and a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association.
        XULA led 3-0 through two innings. The Eagles scored one run in the third inning and another in the sixth.
        Hayden Jones led off USSA's ninth with a home run that tied the score. Five batters later, pinch-runner Connor Fitzner scored from third base on a one-out error.
        XULA scored all its runs in the second inning. Doubles by the first two batters, Zion Morris and Caleb Washington, produced the first run, then Miles Peterson singled with two out to drive home Alan Velez, who had walked, and Cohen Boyd, who had singled.
        XULA's Jeremy Clark pitched the first five innings and allowed one unearned run and four hits. Clark struck out five and walked none.
        Right-hander Hunter Wheaton and left-hander Chad McKenzie will be XULA's starting pitchers Saturday.