TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama left-handed pitcher Adam Morgan struck out a career-high 11 batters in 6.0 innings to lead the Crimson Tide to a 12-4 win over University of South Alabama baseball Saturday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Morgan struck out six of the first eight batters he faced, and retired nine straight Jaguars before giving way to a three-run USA fourth inning that tied the game. The Marietta, Ga., native threw 66 pitches, 54 of which were strikes, and allowed three runs on three hits.
USA sophomore Jarrett Bailey took the loss on the mound for the Jaguars. Bailey allowed five runs on six hits in 3.0 innings, and struck out three Alabama batters while issuing one walk.
Third baseman Jake Smith went 4-for-5 with two RBI to lead Alabama at the plate. USA was led by first baseman Tyler Vick, who went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.
The Crimson Tide jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Jake Smith's RBI-single to right-center field that scored Taylor Dugas, who led off the inning with a walk.
Alabama (1-0) doubled its lead when Dugas led off the bottom of the third inning with a triple, and scored one pitch later on Josh Rutledge's ground out to second. First baseman Clay Jones increased the Crimson Tide lead to 3-0 later in the inning with a solo home run to right field.
USA (2-1) tied the game in the top of the fourth inning with three runs on three hits, highlighted by first baseman Vick's two-run home run over the left field wall. Jaguar left fielder Adam Heisler led off the inning with a bunt single, and advanced to third on Zach Grichor's double down the left field line. Heisler scored one batter later on Jake Overstreet's sacrifice-fly to left field, before Vick tied the game with his first home run as a Jaguar.
Alabama answered in the bottom half of the fourth inning with four runs on two hits to take a 7-3 lead, aided by two Jaguar errors. Crimson Tide left fielder Andrew Miller gave UA a 5-3 lead with a two-run single to center field that plated Chris Smelley and Jon Kelton. Alabama scored two additional runs on a wild pitch and a sacrifice bunt by Dugas.
The game remained scoreless until the top of the seventh inning, when Jaguar senior Sean Laird delivered a solo home run to right field to cut the Alabama lead to 7-4.
The Crimson Tide answered Laird's home run in the bottom of the seventh with two runs on three hits. Ross Wilson doubled to left field to lead off the inning, and later scored on a wild pitch. Brett Booth's RBI-single later in the inning scored Smith, who singled ahead of Booth, to give Alabama a 9-4 lead.
Alabama extended its lead to 12-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning with three runs on five hits. The Crimson Tide had RBI-singles from Wilson, Jones and Smith in the inning.
USA will return to action Sunday when it hosts Alabama at 1:30 p.m. at Stanky Field.
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).
- USA -
NOTES: USA fell to 18-34 all-time at Alabama, and last defeated the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa in 2007 ... The Jags have homered in every game this season, and have hit multiple home runs in two of their first three games this season.
