Box score

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team scored six unanswered runs over the final three innings to defeat Alabama State 6-3 Tuesday at Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

South Alabama (5-3) faced a three-run deficit after six innings of play. Alabama State (3-4) pushed the game's first run across in the second inning on an RBI double by Chris Biocic, and extended its lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Jaguar third baseman Bud Collura reached on an infield single to second to lead off the top of the eighth inning. Later in the frame, Daniel Martinez hit the first pitch he saw from ASU right-hander Jorge Pantoja over the right-field wall to tie the game 3-3. Following a hit by pitch from Pantoja to Jared Barnes, Adam Ballew ripped the first pitch he saw into the right-center gap for an RBI double to give the Jags a 4-3 lead.

USA added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth on consecutive two-out RBI singles from Billingsley and Gleason.

"That was huge," head coach Mark Calvi said. "The game did not look good for us through 21 outs. Our guys hung in there, and our pitchers competed like crazy. (Austin) Bembnowski was pretty good, not great, but the mark of a good pitcher is still giving your team a chance when you don't have your best stuff. The guys behind him – Luke Morgan, Shane McKinley, Cody Van Aken and Ben Taylor – kept competing. We played pretty good defense behind them, and the pitchers kept competing and gave us a chance to win the game late."

USA squandered several opportunities early in the game with runners in scoring position.

Martinez led off the top of the second with a single to center field, and moved to second on a throwing error by ASU starting pitcher Hunter McIntosh on a failed pickoff attempt at first base. A groundout to second off the bat of Barnes moved Martinez to third with one out. Garrett DeGallier then lifted a fly ball into foul territory in left field which looked to score Martinez, but ASU successfully appealed the tag at third for the final out of the inning.

The Jags loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth when DeGallier reached on a fielder's choice, Ryan Raspino singled and Davis Knapp walked. But ASU called on right-hander Michael Tellado out of the bullpen, who rolled an inning-ending 4-3 double play off the bat of Drew LaBounty to escape the threat and preserve a one-run Hornet lead.

Cole Billingsley drew a one-out walk, and Cole Gleason reached on a hit by pitch from Tellado in the top of the sixth. A groundout to first base by Martinez moved both runners into scoring position, but Tellado got out of the inning with a flyout to center field off the bat of Barnes to preserve a three-run ASU advantage.

Alabama State threatened to add to its three-run advantage in the bottom of the sixth. Joseph Estrada reached on a Jaguar fielding error to lead off the inning. USA right-hander Luke Morgan induced a popup to third, but Collura mishandled the ball to allow Estrada to reach safely. A wild pitch from Morgan allowed Estrada to move into scoring position at second with no outs. Morgan responded with a strikeout for the first out of the frame, followed by a flyout to center field for out two. Jaguar southpaw Shane McKinley then entered in relief of Morgan and struck out P.J. Harris to strand the runner and escape the threat.

USA pushed its first run of the game across in the top of the seventh. Matt Bolger pinch-hit to lead off the inning, and reached on a walk. Two straight groundouts to second base allowed him to move to third before a passed ball by ASU catcher Chris Biocic scored Bolger from third to cut the ASU lead to 3-1.

"It didn't look good for seven innings," Calvi said. "That was a team win. Our guys hung in there and played for nine innings, and we were very fortunate to beat a very good team tonight. Alabama State probably should have been in a regional last year, and they will challenge to win their league every year with that coaching staff and the talent they have in that dugout. They can beat anyone on any given day, and they will do that this year. This was two evenly-matched teams. I have known that coaching staff for a long time. Alabama State is no one's midweek win or doormat anymore. They can beat anyone because they are talented and they are coached well."

McKinley (1-0) did not allow a hit, and finished with two strikeouts and one walk in 1 1/3 scoreless relief innings to earn his first career win at South Alabama. Right-hander Ben Taylor came on to record the final out of the game for his first save of the season. Pantoja (0-1) took the loss for ASU, allowing three runs on three hits with two strikeouts in one inning pitched.

Martinez went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Billingsley finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run, Ballew added a double and an RBI and Gleason had one hit and drove in a run. Rivera went 2-for-5 with an RBI to lead the ASU offense.

South Alabama will return to action this weekend when it hosts Brown in a four-game series at Stanky Field, with game one scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday at Stanky Field.

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).