University of South Alabama Athletics

Box score

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama State used a six-run sixth inning to defeat No. 28 University of South Alabama baseball 12-7 Tuesday at Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

ASU (20-12) plated eight runs in its final three at-bats, aided by its six-run sixth, and pounded out 14 hits in the game led by Eriq White who went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

USA (21-8) pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the second to take the game's first lead. Jared Barnes broke a scoreless tie with a one-out solo home run – his fifth of the season – to left field on a 2-1 pitch from ASU right-hander Darren Kelly. Ben Gann followed with a double off the left-center field wall, then Adam Wolfe reached on a fielding error by Hornet third baseman Ray Hernandez. Travis Swaggerty followed with a single through the left side of the infield to load the bases with one out. Gann scored on a wild pitch from Kelly later in the inning to double the Jaguar lead at 2-0.

ASU answered with its first run of the contest in the bottom of the third. White singled with one out in the inning, and then stole second. Yamil Pagan delivered a two-out RBI single to right-center field later in the inning to score White and cut the Jaguar lead to one run.

The Hornets then took a two-run lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Carlos Ocasio reached on a hit by pitch from Long to lead off the bottom of the fourth, and then stole second with one out. Chris Biocic followed with a one-out RBI single to center field to score Ocasio and tie the game 2-2. Hunter Phillips then delivered an RBI double off the right field wall to score Biocic for a 3-2 Hornet lead. White followed with an RBI single to right field to plate Phillips and double the ASU lead to 4-2. 

USA responded with four runs in the top of the sixth to take a two-run lead. Wolfe and Swaggerty reached on consecutive singles to start the inning. A wild pitch allowed both runners to move into scoring position with no outs. Cole Billingsley then drew a walk to load the bases, but a wild pitch from ASU right-hander Burke Echelmeier allowed Wolfe to score and cut the ASU lead to 4-3. A second wild pitch scored Swaggerty and tied the game 4-4. Drew LaBounty then drew a walk to put runners at the corners with no outs. Danny Martinez followed with a walk to load the bases for Carter Perkins, who reached on a hit by pitch to force home Billingsley for a 5-4 Jaguar lead. Brendan Donovan then reached on a fielder's choice on a shallow fly ball to center field that scored LaBounty for a 6-4 USA advantage. 

ASU answered with six runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a four-run lead. Pagan reached on a fielding error by Jaguar right-hander Mike Dolloff that allowed Phillips to score and cut the USA lead to one run, and Diandre Amion followed with an RBI single back up the middle to score White and tie the game 6-6. Ocasio then delivered a two-out, two-run to left-center field for an 8-6 ASU advantage. Dillon Cooper followed with an RBI double down the right field line to score Ocasio for a 9-6 Hornet lead. Biocic then singled back up the middle to plate Cooper for a 10-6 ASU advantage. 

USA responded with its final run of the game in the top of the seventh. Swaggerty led off the top of the inning with a single to center field, and moved to second on a groundout to first by Billingsley. LaBounty followed with an RBI single back up the middle to plate Swaggerty and cut the Hornet lead to three runs.

The Hornets scored the game's final runs in the bottom of the eighth inning on an RBI double by Amion and a sacrifice fly by Ocasio.

Swaggerty recorded a career-high three hits, and finished 3-for-6 with two runs scored to lead USA at the plate. Barnes added a home run, one RBI and one run scored, and Donovan and LaBounty added a hit and one RBI apiece.

ASU right-hander Michael Tellado (1-1) allowed one run on two hits with one strikeout and one walk in 1 2/3 innings pitched to earn his first win of the season. Jaguar right-hander Mike Dolloff (1-3) allowed one earned run on six hits with two strikeouts and one walk in two relief innings in the loss.

"We didn't get the big hit," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "We didn't put their (Alabama State) hitters away with two strikes; they battled with two strikes and got the big hit when it mattered tonight and we didn't. They played better baseball than we did. They walked a lot of guys – luckily for us we didn't walk a lot of guys – and we could not come through with the big hit when it really mattered. That bases-loaded double was a dagger, but what hurt was we put up a four-spot in the top of the sixth to go two runs ahead and then we give up six. I give a lot of credit to Alabama State; they worked. They earned the victory tonight. We got outplayed in all facets.

"We have less than 24 hours before we turn around and line up against another really good team. We have to play much better tomorrow if we expect to be in the ballgame, much less win it, against a very good New Orleans team."

South Alabama will return to action Wednesday when it hosts New Orleans at 6:30 p.m. at Stanky Field.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).