South Alabama overcame five errors to beat Northwestern State 3-2 in the season-opening Jaguar Invitational Friday night at Stanky Field.

The Jaguars (1-0) scored a run in the sixth and two in the seventh to erase a 2-0 deficit against the Demons (0-1). Will Turner’s two-out, RBI infield single brought home the go-ahead run.

“Great effort tonight by Jeremy Lee and all the guys that came in on the mound,” South Alabama coach Mark Calvi said. “We took one on the chin when we were down 2-0. … Our guys just hung in there and we had some timely at-bats.”

The game also marked the return of South Alabama ace pitcher Jeremy Lee, who missed most of last season due to elbow surgery. In his first outing in nearly a year, the right-hander took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before surrendering a pair of unearned runs.

Lee got a no-decision, but allowed just two hits with a hit batter and eight strikeouts. Relievers Matthew DeLano, Danny Diaz and Grant Wood retired 10 straight Northwestern State hitters — six by strikeout — to close out the victory.

“It felt good to get back out on the mound and compete again,” Lee said. “… I think we had an 85-pitch limit going into the game, and I finished right there at that.

“I was able to control all my pitches, which is something I’ve been working on. I was able to ‘pitch backwards,’ more than just fastball-heavy.”

The game was scoreless until the top of the sixth, when Northwestern State broke through for two runs. Caleb Castle led off with a single to center, then Gabe Colaianni reached on an error by South Alabama shortstop Trey Lewis.

Daunte Stewart grounded out, then Lee then hit Bailyn Sorensen with a pitch to load the bases. Lee struck out Bo Willis for the second out, but Michael Dattalo then hit a hard ground ball to short, which Lewis knocked down before throwing wildly to second.

Two runs scored on the play, with Dattalo credited with an infield single. That ended the night for Lee, with DeLano striking out Jeffrey Elkins to end the inning.

South Alabama got a run back in the bottom of the sixth after loading the bases with one out. Colson Lawrence scored on a wild pitch, but Robbie Petracci struck out and Diego Altamirano grounded out to keep it a 2-1 game.

After DeLano set the Demons down in order in the top of the seventh, the Jaguars took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Joseph Sullivan doubled to right with two outs, then Lawrence reached on an infield single.

Sullivan scored on a wild pitch, with Lawrence advancing all the way to third. Turner then ripped a single off the foot of Northwestern State pitcher Dawson Flowers, allowing Lawrence to come home with the go-ahead run.

Diaz and Wood both recorded 1-2-3 innings to finish the game for the Jaguars. DeLano (1-0) picked up the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings in his South Alabama debut, while Wood was credited with the save.

Flowers, who allowed two runs in one inning, took the loss for Northwestern State. Demons starter Cole Carver allowed just two hits and a walk in five scoreless innings, with six strikeouts.

Sullivan, Lawrence and Mitchell Heer each had two of South Alabama’s seven hits. Lawrence and Heer were both playing in their first game with the Jaguars after transferring from Wallace-Hanceville Community College.

South Alabama continues action in the four-team Jaguar Classic on Saturday, meeting Eastern Kentucky in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. Northwestern State faces UAB in the early game at 11 a.m.