Box score


MOBILE, Ala. – Nolan Earley delivered a two-out walk-off double in the bottom of the 10th inning to lead No. 20 University of South Alabama baseball to a 3-2 series-clinching win over Middle Tennessee Saturday at Stanky Field.

Middle Tennessee left-hander Joey McClung recorded two quick outs in the bottom of the 10th before Cole Billingsley reached on a bunt single down the first base line, and advanced to third on a single to right-center field by Whitt Dorsey. Earley then drilled a 1-0 pitch from McClung into the right-center gap to score Billingsley for the game-winning run.

McClung (2-2) took the loss in two-thirds of an inning, allowing one run on three hits. Jaguar right-hander Dylan Stamey (5-1) earned the win in 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and finished with two strikeouts.

USA starter Matt Bell allowed just two unearned runs on four hits, and struck out five without issuing a walk but did not factor in the decision.

Middle Tennessee (25-24, 8-15 SBC) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when Dain McNabb reached on a Jaguar error at shortstop, and eventually scored on an RBI single by Ryan Ford. The Blue Raiders loaded the bases with one out later in the inning and doubled its lead on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Stephens.

The Jaguars cut the Blue Raider lead in half in the bottom of the sixth when Jeff DeBlieux led off the inning with a triple to right-center field, and scored on an RBI groundout to shortstop by Drew Cofield.

USA tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth when DeBlieux reached on a one-out hit by pitch from Middle Tennessee starter Zac Curtis, and later scored on an RBI single to right field by Jordan Patterson.

Earley went 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Patterson finished 2-for-5 with an RBI, and Dorsey added two hits.

“(Matt) Bell was coming off a bad outing last week, and he just hung in there,” head coach Mark Calvi said. “He toughed it out and made some pitches when he had to. It was just a team win. I couldn’t be happier for those guys. I thought our guys pitched extremely well, and we played very solid defense. A lot of things had to happen for us to win these two games and it did.”

South Alabama (36-12, 17-6 SBC) will go for the series sweep Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Stanky Field.


Game 1 – South Alabama 12, Middle Tennessee 11 (14 inn.)

Box score

South Alabama rallied to score three runs in the bottom of the 14th inning to defeat Middle Tennessee 12-11 in a resumed game Saturday afternoon at Stanky Field.

The game, which was suspended with one out in the top of the 14th Friday evening, was resumed Saturday at 5 p.m.

Graham Odom reached on a hit by pitch with one out, and advanced to third when Collura grounded to third for what looked to be a game-ending groundout. But LaRue’s throw sailed wide of second base into right field to extend the inning. Patterson drew a walk to load the bases for Billingsley, who was hit by a pitch to score Odom and cut the Middle Tennessee lead to 11-10. Earley followed with a bases-loaded walk to score Collura and tie the game at 11. Dalken then worked the count full against Blue Raider southpaw Jordan Cooper before drawing a walk to score Patterson and end the game.

“We got two quick outs, and scored three runs without any hits but give our guys credit for taking some walks and wearing some balls,” Calvi said. “Their (Middle Tennessee) pitcher was wild, and sometimes the game tells you that you have to take. If our guys were selfish and wanting to win the game with one swing, then we probably would popped some balls up. But they weren’t selfish and that’s why this is a team. It’s as good as the best team I have ever been a part of as far as the way they jell.

“That alone wins some games when it gets tough. Good things happen to good kids, and I was very thrilled and pleased that they hung in there and got that done because it didn’t look good.”

South Alabama fell behind 5-0 after 2 1/2 innings following a five-run third that was highlighted by an RBI single by Johnny Thomas, two-run double to right-center field by Trent Miller and RBI triple by Ryan Stephens.

The Jaguars answered in the bottom of the third on an RBI single through the left side of the infield by DeBlieux that scored Dorsey, who reached on a Blue Raider error at third base to lead off the inning. Bud Collura drew a one-out walk to load the bases for Patterson, who singled through the left side to score DeBlieux and Robby Campbell and cut the Blue Raider lead to 5-3.

South Alabama cut its deficit to one run in the bottom of the fourth when Dustin Dalken singled through the right side, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dorsey and later scored on an RBI single to center field by Campbell.

USA tied the game 5-5 in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double down the left field line by Nick Zaharion that scored Patterson, who reached on a two-out walk. Earley followed with an RBI single to left-center field to score Zaharion and give the Jags a 6-5 lead. Dalken then tripled to right field to score Earley and increase the USA lead to 7-5. Dalken later scored on a wild pitch for an 8-5 USA lead.

The Blue Raiders pushed a run across in the top of the eighth on an RBI groundout by Miller to cut the Jaguar lead to 8-6.

Middle Tennessee then tied the game 9-9 in the top of the ninth on a two-run single by Hank LaRue and a sacrifice fly by Miller that eventually forced extra innings.

Jaime Dennis (2-0) earned the win in two-thirds of an inning, while Cooper (3-3) suffered the loss in two-thirds of an inning allowing three unearned runs with three walks and a pair of strikeouts.

DeBlieux went 3-for-7 with an RBI and a run, while Dalken finished 2-for-6 with a triple, two RBI, two runs and two walks. Patterson had a hit, two RBI and two runs, and Earley finished with a hit, two RBI and a run. Campbell added two hits, one RBI and a run.

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).