Box score
Photo gallery

MOBILE, Ala. – Middle Tennessee scored the game-winning run in the top of the 12th inning to defeat the University of South Alabama baseball team 5-4 in Sunday's rubber match at Stanky Field.

The Blue Raiders pushed across the game's decisive run in the top of the 12th when Blake Benefield doubled down the right field line with two outs, and scored one batter later on a two-out single to right field by Austin Dennis.

Blue Raider left-hander Jake Wyrick (1-1) tossed one-third of an inning in relief in the win, and right-hander Sam Alton recorded the final three outs of the game for his first save of the season. Jaguar right-hander Mike Dolloff (1-2) allowed one run on just two hits with four strikeouts and five walks in 6 1/3 relief innings. 

The Jags forced extra innings when they rallied to tie the game 4-4 with a two-out run in the ninth. Travis Swaggerty led off the inning with a single to left field, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brendan Donovan. A flyout to right-center off the bat of Jason Cryar allowed Swaggerty to tag and reach third before he scored on a passed ball from Blue Raider catcher Chaz Vesser. 

South Alabama (9-3) took the game's first lead in the bottom of the first inning. Cryar led off the inning with a walk, moved to second on a balk by MT right-hander Reid Clements and advanced to third on a groundout to second by Cole Billingsley. Drew LaBounty followed with a one-out RBI double to left field for a one-run Jaguar lead. 

But Middle Tennessee (6-5) answered with a run to tie the game in the top of the second inning. Benefield doubled down the left field line with one out, and moved to second on a wild pitch from Jaguar left-hander Thomas Huston before scoring on an RBI single to center field by Dennis.

The Blue Raiders broke the 1-1 tie with three runs in the top of the fourth on a one-out, two-run double to left field by Benefield, and an RBI groundout to second by Dennis. 

USA responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth to cut its deficit in half. Dylan Hardy drew a leadoff walk from Clements in the bottom of the fifth, and moved to third on a single to right-center by Cryar to put runners at the corners with no outs. Billingsley followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to left field to cut the Blue Raider lead to 4-2.

South Alabama cut its deficit to one run in the bottom of the seventh. Swaggerty and Donovan drew consecutive walks to start the bottom of the seventh. A sacrifice bunt by Cryar moved both runners into scoring position for Billingsley, who lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Swaggerty and cut the Middle Tennessee lead to one run. 

Middle Tennessee threatened to add to its lead in the top of the ninth. Sullivan reached on a leadoff walk from Dolloff, and moved to second when Vesser reached on a fielding error by Danny Martinez at first on a sacrifice bunt attempt. A sacrifice bunt from Riley Delgado put both runners in scoring position with one out. USA intentionally walked Brad Jarreau to load the bases for Austin Sistrunk, who grounded into a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play.

LaBounty went 3-for-6 with a double and one RBI to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Cryar added two hits, and Billingsley drove in a pair of runs. Benefield finished 3-for-5 with three doubles, two RBI and three runs scored to lead Middle Tennessee offensively.

South Alabama will return to action Tue., March 8, when it travels to Starkville, Miss., for a 6:30 p.m. contest with Mississippi State. 

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).