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MOBILE, Ala. – Davis Knapp delivered a bases-loaded, walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead University of South Alabama baseball to a 5-4 win over Nicholls State Tuesday at Stanky Field.
Cameron Cummings and Andrew Tindell reached on consecutive walks to lead off the bottom-half of the ninth, and advanced one base each on a sacrifice bunt from Drew LaBounty. NSU intentionally walked Adam Ballew to load the bases with one out before Knapp drilled a 1-0 pitch from Colonel right-hander Marc Frazier through the left side of the infield to score Cummings with the game-winning run.
Nicholls State (13-13) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Justin Holt delivered two-out, three-run double down the left field line following consecutive walks by Frazier and Charles Morton, and a one-out single by Seth Stevens.
But South Alabama (13-10) answered with three runs in the bottom of the second to tie the game. Cole Jarman and Cummings reached on consecutive one-out walks to start the inning. Tindell then reached on a fielding error by NSU second baseman Brandon Jackson that allowed Jarman to score from second and cut the NSU lead to 3-1. Drew LaBounty followed with an RBI single to right-center field to cut the Colonel lead to one run. Knapp tied the game two batters later on a two-out RBI single to right-center to score Tindell from second base.
NSU took a 4-3 lead in the top of the third when Keith Cormier reached on a one-out walk, and later scored on an RBI single to right field by Morton. A single to center field by Tyler Duplantis loaded the bases with one out. Hunter Soleymani, who entered in relief of Jaguar starter Matt Bell, forced out a Colonel runner at the plate for the second out of the inning on a fielder's choice from Stevens, and escaped the jam without allowing a run to cross with an inning-ending groundout to third off the bat of Christian Correa.
LaBounty reached on a two-out single to center field in the bottom of the fourth, advanced to third on a single to right field by Ballew and scored on a throwing error by NSU catcher Correa on a stolen base by Ballew to tie the game 4-4.
NSU loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the sixth after a two-out infield single by Leo Vargas followed a two-out walk by Brandon Jackson. But Soleymani ended the threat with an inning-ending strikeout to preserve a 4-4 tie.
USA right-hander Ben Taylor (2-1) earned the win in two scoreless relief innings, and struck out three while issuing one walk. Zach Thiac (1-2) took the loss for the Colonels, allowing one run on one hit with two walks and a pair of strikeouts.
Knapp went 2-for-5 with two RBI to lead the Jags at the plate, while LaBounty finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and one run scored. Morton went 1-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored to lead NSU offensively.
South Alabama will return to action this weekend when it hosts Texas-Arlington in a three-game Sun Belt Conference series, beginning with game one Friday at 6:30 p.m.
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).
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