WACO, Texas ? David Doss homered three times and drove in seven, but Alabama-Birmingham scored five runs in the ninth to erase a one-run deficit as the University of South Alabama fell 13-8 Saturday at Baylor Ballpark.

Brandon Brown came out of the bullpen to try to earn his second save of the season with USA (5-6) leading 8-7 going to the ninth. He allowed an infield single to Nick Crawford and a Baltimore-chop double down the left field line to put the potential go-ahead run in scoring position for the Blazers.

Cody McMurry brought the tying run home on a fielder’s choice, and Austin Taylor gave UAB (4-5) a 9-8 lead with a RBI double. The Blazers tacked on three more runs against Brown with a squeeze play and a two-run double. Michael Raia came on in relief and nearly escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam without any further damage, but a wild pitch gave the Blazers their 13th run.

UAB got the scoring started in the second when Taylor reached on an error and came around to score on Luke Stewart’s RBI double.

USA took the lead in the fourth when David Doss drilled a towering two-run homer to left field on a 3-0 pitch from Blazers’ starter Shay Crawford. Doss’ blast brought in Sean Laird, who led off the inning with a double.

The Blazers threatened to score in the top of the fifth when they put runners on second and third with one out, but Derek O'Reilly saved at least one run with a leaping catch of a liner up the middle, and Sage induced a groundout to third to end the threat.

USA added to its lead in the fifth when Clint Reynolds knocked a one-out single and came around to score on Sean Laird’s bases-loaded walk. One batter later, Crawford was chased from the game when Doss came to the plate with the bases loaded and two out.

Doss came through again, this time drilling a 1-0 offering from UAB reliever Tristan Farrell for a Grand Slam to right-center, giving the Jags a 7-1 lead.

UAB got a run back in the sixth when Cody McMurry hit a leadoff homer, cutting USA’s lead to 7-2. After the Blazers put runners on the corners with no one out in the seventh, Sage handed the ball to Miles Ethridge.

Ethridge walked the first batter he faced, then surrendered a two-run double to Nick Crawford and a two-run single to Brint Hardy to cut USA’s lead to 7-6.

Greg Johnson came in from the bullpen with the potential tying run on first base. He allowed an infield single, then got the first out on a sacrifice bunt that moved the potential go-ahead run into scoring position. A fielder’s choice groundout cut down the runner trying to advance to third, but the Blazers plated a run on the play to tie the game at 7-7. Johnson struck out the next batter to end the inning with the score tied 7-7.

The Jags regained the lead when Doss collected his third homer of the game with a solo shot to left-center in the bottom of the seventh. Johnson worked a scoreless eighth, then handed the ball to Brandon Brown for the ninth with USA leading 8-7.

USA returns to action Sunday in its last game of the QTI Baylor Classic. The Jags take on No. 5 UC Irvine at 11 a.m. Lance Baxter is scheduled to start for USA, and right-hander Crosby Slaught is slated to throw for the Anteaters.

Notes:  Ryan Bohanan’s second-inning single extended his hitting streak to a career-high-tying 10 straight and 19 of the past 20 dating back to 2008 ... Clint Reynolds extended his career-best hitting streak to nine games with an infield single in the fifth ... David Doss’ first homer was the 26th of his career, moving him into a tie for 11th place with Joey Choron on USA’s career home runs list ... His second homer moved him into a tie for 10th place with Jerry Poston at 27 ... Doss’ third home run of the game was his 28th, tying him with Mike Mordecai for ninth on USA’s all-time home runs list ... The last time a USA player hit three home runs in a game was when Josh Touchstone hit three against Eastern Illinois on March 17, 2004, a game the Jags won 25-24 ... Doss’ three home runs tied a Baylor Ballpark record ? only Baylor’s Aaron Miller and McNeese State’s Ben Broussard had previously accomplished the feat since the stadium opened in 1999 ... Doss’ seven RBI are the most by a USA player since Ryne Jernigan had the same amount against Southern Miss on May 13, 2008.

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