LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - South Alabama got 15 hits off six University of New Orleans pitchers as the Jaguars cruised to a 14-2 run-rule win over the second-seeded Privateers in the opening round of the Sun Belt Conference Baseball Championship yesterday.

The Jaguars (32-24) scored five runs in the first inning off New Orleans' starter Stephen Whalen (5-5) and never looked back in moving into today's semifinal against the winner of yesterday's late game, Troy against Louisiana-Lafayette.

New Orleans (38-17), which lost its fifth straight game, faces the loser of that matchup in an elimination game today.

South Alabama catcher David Doss tied a Sun Belt Tournament record with three doubles, part of his team's seven extra-base hits that also included home runs by Bunky Kateon and Ray Kruml. Kruml's three-run homer in the sixth gave the Jaguars a 13-1 lead and set up the run-rule victory.

South Alabama starter Eric Gonzalez (7-6) allowed six hits in five innings in earning the win. New Orleans' only runs scored on a wild pitch and an error.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)