Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama catcher Brock Bennett delivered a walk-off single up the middle in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the No. 21-ranked Crimson Tide to a 4-3 win over University of South Alabama baseball Wednesday evening at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

Bennett singled home Taylor Dugas, who led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk and stole second before scoring on the play. The Jaguars were in a bunt coverage that brought third baseman Jerry Roam in while shortstop Logan Kirkland broke toward third to cover the base. Bennett then hit a ground ball to the vacated shortstop position on the infield which rolled into the outfield, allowing Dugas to score.

Bennett went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a stolen base to lead Alabama at the plate. Dugas finished 1-for-1 with a double, four walks, three runs scored and a stolen base, and James Tullidge went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Crimson Tide left-hander Adam Windsor (1-0) earned the win in three innings of relief, allowing one run on two hits. Alabama starting pitcher Taylor Wolfe tossed six innings and allowed two runs on four hits while striking out eight and walking one without factoring in the decision.

South Alabama right-hander Jeff Miller (0-3) suffered the loss in three innings pitched, and allowed one run on just one hit and struck out three but issued four walks. Carlton Paris pitched five innings and allowed three runs on four hits while striking out two and issuing three walks without factoring in the decision.

Kirkland went 2-for-4 with a double and one run scored, extending his season-long hitting streak to 10 games, to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Brad Hook went 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Jordan Patterson added a hit and one RBI.

Alabama jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Dugas led off the bottom of the first with a double to left field and later scored on Jared Reaves’ sacrifice fly to center field.

The Jaguars answered with a run in the top of the second to tie the game 1-1 when Brent Tanner doubled to right-center field to lead off the inning and later score when Trey Sorrells reached on an error by Reaves.

The Crimson Tide took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning when Dugas scored on a passed ball, and extended its lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Bennett singled to left field to score Tullidge. Paris pitched out of a bases-loaded jam later in the fifth when retired Josh Rosecrans on a groundout, after walking Austen Smith to load the bases.

USA cut the Alabama lead to 3-2 in the top of the sixth inning on Patterson’s single to left-center field that scored Kirkland, who singled to center field to lead off the inning.

The Jaguars then tied the game 3-3 in the top of the seventh when Kirkland reached on a fielding error by Alabama third baseman Brett Booth which allowed Hook to score from third.

But Dugas, who reached base in all five plate appearnces, got into scoring position with no outs before Bennett delivered the game-winning hit.

South Alabama (13-11) will return to action this weekend with a three-game Sun Belt Conference series at Middle Tennessee, which will open Friday at 6 p.m. in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

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:  Kirkland extended his hitting streak to 10 games, and recorded his 10th multiple-hit game of the season … Kirkland has hit safely in 21 of his first 24 games as a Jaguar … South Alabama fell to 48-54 all-time against Alabama and 20-37 all-time at Sewell-Thomas Stadium .