FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas scored 12 runs Friday in the opening game of its series against South Alabama.

It could have used some of those Saturday.

No. 24 Arkansas couldn’t solve South Alabama’s pitching as the Jaguars defeated the Razorbacks 2-1 and 5-3 in front of an announced crowd of 3,657 at Baum Stadium.

South Alabama starter Locke St. John threw 116 pitches over 8 1/3 innings and allowed 1 run on 8 hits in the first game of the doubleheader. He struck out three and walked two.

“I was very comfortable out there today,” St. John said. “I just had it.”

Arkansas threatened to score in the second inning after Michael Bernal led off the inning with a double, but he was thrown out at home trying to score from second on Joe Serrano’s bunt single.

“We’ve got to do a better job in some situations,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. “We ran ourselves out of [that] inning.”

The Razorbacks outhit the Jaguars 8-5 in the first game but couldn’t string together hits when needed, leaving seven runners on base for the game.

South Alabama got on the board in the fifth inning on a RBI single by Cameron Cummings. The Jaguars added a run in the seventh after an Arkansas error extended the inning.

Arkansas had the potential game-winning run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth but scored only one run on Brett McAfee’s sacrifice fly. Blake Baxendale flew out to center to end the game.

Chris Oliver struggled with his command in the opening game, allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits over 5 innings. Zach Jackson took the loss, allowing an unearned run despite not allowing a hit in two innings of work.

South Alabama managed to hold off a late Arkansas rally in the second game to complete the doubleheader sweep.

Jaguars starter Kevin Hill gave up three earned runs on seven hits and pitched into the ninth inning. Hill, who threw 126 pitches, was pulled after allowing the first two Arkansas hitters to reach base in the bottom of the ninth.

KJ Wilkerson scored on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Benintendi to pull Arkansas within 5-3, but that was as close as Arkansas would get. Serrano’s infield single loaded the bases with two outs, but Brian Anderson flew out to right field.

The Razorbacks stranded nine runners in the second game, including six in scoring position.

“We had our opportunities, but [Hill] got us to chase some balls down in the zone with runners on,” Van Horn said.

Arkansas’ other two runs came in the fifth inning on Tyler Spoon’s two-run triple.

The Razorbacks had problems all day hitting the ball on the ground, with 21 of their 52 outs in the doubleheader coming on fly-outs.

“They didn’t make too many mistakes, and when they did we put the ball in the air,” Spoon said. “We put the ball in the air way too many times.”

Trey Killian made his first start of the season after serving a suspension during Arkansas’ first two series. Killian held South Alabama scoreless for the first two innings, but the Jaguars scored four earned runs on five hits off the sophomore in the third inning. Killian was pulled after throwing 62 pitches in 2 2/3 innings.

The Razorbacks’ bullpen was forced to pitch at least six innings for the third consecutive series finale. Colin Poche, Jackson Lowery and Landon Simpson combined to allow 4 hits, 3 walks and 1 unearned run in 6 1/3 innings.

“The positive of the day was some of the young pitchers,” Van Horn said. “I made the comment after the game that they’re moving up the ladder.”

Sports, Pages 21 on 03/02/2014