Box score

ARLINGTON, Texas – RJ Williams delivered an RBI walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead UT-Arlington to a 5-4 series-clinching win over University of South Alabama baseball Sunday at Clay Gould Ballpark.

UTA (9-7, 4-2 SBC) began its rally with one out when Tanner Houston reached on a walk and Dalton DeLeon followed with a hit by pitch from Austin Bembnowski. Jaguar right-hander Ben Taylor entered in relief of Bembnowski before Williams hit the first pitch he saw back up the box to score Houston from second for the decisive run.

The Mavericks outscored South Alabama (12-8, 3-3 SBC) 4-0 over the game's final four innings, beginning with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Jerame Littell's one-out RBI single to left field scored Jackson Morris, who reached on a leadoff walk, to cut the USA lead in half at 4-2.

UTA then put up a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh, with one coming on a costly Jaguar error, to tie the game 4-4. Levi Scott doubled to center field with one out, and moved to third on a single to center by Brady Cox. DeLeon later delivered a two-out RBI single to right field to score Scott, and Cox came around to score on the play on a throwing error into third by Ballew to tie the game 4-4.

Bembnowski (1-2) allowed one run on one hit with a pair of walks and one strikeout in the loss. UTA right-hander Jacob Moreland (1-1) earned the win with 1 2/3 scoreless innings, and allowed just one hit.

USA scored the game's first runs in the top of the second inning. Danny Martinez led off with a single to right field, and advanced to second on a walk by Cole Gleason. Garrett DeGallier moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt to third before an RBI groundout to second from Matt Bolger plated Martinez for a 1-0 Jaguar lead. Ryan Raspino drew a two-out walk before Bud Collura grounded to second for what looked to be the final out of the inning. But UTA second baseman Eric Tate's throw sailed high of first base to allow Gleason to score and double the USA lead at 2-0.

UTA cut the Jaguar lead in half in the bottom of the second on a two-out RBI single to left field by Littell that scored Morris, who led off the inning with a walk.

South Alabama answered with a run in the top of the third on a one-out solo home run to right field by Cole Billingsley – the first of his Jaguar career – for a 3-1 advantage.

The Jags pushed across their final run of the game in the top of the fifth. Raspino led off the inning with a single to right field, advanced to second on a throwing error by UTA right-hander Joel Kuhnel on a failed pickoff attempt at first and moved to third on a balk. Jared Barnes then delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Raspino and push the Jag lead to 4-1.

Billingsley went 3-for-4 with a home run, one RBI, one run scored and a stolen base to lead USA offensively. Martinez also went 3-for-4 with a run scored. Littell finished 2-for-4 with two RBI to lead UTA at the plate.

USA will return to action Tue., March 17, when it hosts Alabama State at 6:30 p.m. 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).