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MOBILE, Ala.  – Brad Hook hit a three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the University of South Alabama baseball team to a 9-7 win over Florida International Friday at Stanky Field.

South Alabama (17-25, 11-8 SBC) trailed by a run heading into the bottom of the ninth after FIU’s Mike Martinez hit a go-ahead solo shot in the top of the ninth. But the Jags rallied with one out in the bottom-half of the frame with a walk by Jordan Patterson and single by Graham Odom off of FIU closer Michael Gomez. Hook worked the count to 1-1 before lifting a fastball from Gomez over the right field wall.

“He (Gomez) threw me two fastballs low and away, and then he threw me an inside fastball,” Hook said. “I just wanted to get my hands inside, and I did and just put a good swing on it.”

FIU (24-17, 10-9 SBC) held a 5-2 lead through 3 1/2 innings before the Jags scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game 5-5. With two runners on and no outs, Whitt Dorsey doubled down the left field line to score Robby Campbell and Nolan Earley, who reached on a single and a walk, respectively. Patterson followed with an RBI single back up the middle to score Dorsey and tie the game.

USA loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh and took a 6-5 lead on a two-out single by Hunt Griffith.

But the Panthers answered with a run in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Julius Gaines to tie the game 6-6. The Panthers then grabbed a 7-6 lead one inning later on Martinez’s solo homer in the top of the ninth before Hook’s game-winning shot down inside the right field foul pole.

“These kids don’t quit,” USA head coach Mark Calvi said. “Our guys hung in there. I couldn’t be happier for Brad (Hook). He had a couple of good swings tonight and didn’t have a lot to show for it. But he got into one, and I was just hoping that it stayed fair.”

Pablo Bermudez gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead when he led off the game with a solo homer to right field. T.J. Shantz led off the top of the second with a double, and scored to double the FIU lead to 2-0 on Adam Kirsch’s double to left-center field.

J.T. Files led off the bottom of the second with a walk, and moved to third on consecutive wild pitches by FIU starter Mason McVay. Campbell followed with an RBI single to left field to score Files and cut the FIU lead to 2-1.

Jabari Henry pushed the Panther lead to 5-1 in the top of the third with a three-run homer to left-center field, but Dalken cut the FIU lead to 5-2 with a one-out single up the middle in the bottom of the third that plated Dorsey prior to the Jags’ three-run fourth inning that tied the game.

Patterson went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, and Dorsey finished 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI, two runs scored and two walks. Campbell went 2-for-3 with an RBI, one run and a walk, and Nick Zaharion added two hits. Hook finished 1-for-3 with a homer, three RBI, a run scored and two walks.

Kirsch went 3-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored to lead FIU at the plate.

Kyle Bartsch (1-2) earned his first career win in two relief innings, allowing one run on one hit with two walks and a pair of strikeouts. Gomez (1-3) suffered the loss without recording an out, and allowed three runs on two hits with one walk.

USA right-hander Jarrett Bailey scattered six hits and allowed just one run in five innings in relief with two walks and two strikeouts.

The series will continue with game two Saturday at 6:30 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).




NOTES:  USA starter Phillip Byrd became the program’s all-time leader in appearances (87), passing former Jaguar All-American Mike Zimmerman on the career list … Dalken recorded his first career stolen base … Bartsch earned his first career win at South Alabama … USA improved to 26-23 all-time against FIU … Friday’s win snapped a five-game losing skid to the Panthers, and marked the first win over FIU since 2010.