Box Score (PDF)

MOBILE, Ala. – Alabama scored five unanswered runs over the final four innings to defeat the University of South Alabama baseball team 7-3 in Friday's series opener at Stanky Field.

The loss snapped a four-game Jaguar win streak, while Alabama (8-2) extended its winning streak to four games.

South Alabama will return to action Saturday when it hosts Alabama in a doubleheader at 2 p.m. at Stanky Field. The series finale, originally scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch Sunday, was moved to Saturday due to expected inclement weather and will be played approximately 30 to 45 minutes after the conclusion of game two. 

GAME FACTS
- Alabama broke a scoreless tie in the top of the second on an RBI double to left field by Justin King that scored Keith Holcombe, who led off the inning with a walk, for a 1-0 advantage. Kolby Robinson lifted a sacrifice fly to right field later in the inning to double the Crimson Tide lead at 2-0.
- South Alabama answered in the bottom of the third when Ethan Wilson lifted a 1-2 pitch from UA right-hander Sam Finnerty over the right field wall for a one-out, three-run home run, his second of the season, for a 3-2 lead. Colton Thomas led off the inning with a single, and moved to second on a one-out walk by Bennett Shell ahead of Wilson's home run.
- Alabama loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth on a pair of walks and a single by King. Kolby Robinson followed with a sacrifice fly to left to tie the game at 3-3.
- The Crimson Tide took a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh on a two-out RBI triple to left field by Holcombe.
- Alabama added the game's final runs in the top of the eighth on a trio of one-out RBI singles by Kobe Morris, Brett Auerbach and Morgan McCullough.

NOTES
- Wilson extended his on-base streak to seven games with a three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning. 
- Santi Montiel extended his on-base streak to seven games with a two-out single in the bottom of the fourth inning.
- Finnerty (3-0) allowed three runs on four hits with four strikeouts and one walk in six innings pitched to earn the win.
- Jaguar right-hander Nick DeSantis (0-1) allowed one run on one hit with two walks and one strikeout in 1 2/3 relief innings in the loss.
- Wells Davis' on-base streak was snapped at 25 games.
- Right-hander Patrick McBride made his 2019 debut with a relief appearance in the top of the ninth inning.
- Kaleb DeLaTorre finished 2-for-4 with a double to lead the Jaguars at the plate.
- Eight Alabama starters hit safely in the game. 

QUOTES
Head Coach Mark Calvi
- On the game:
"Drake's (Nightengale) wounds were self-inflicted. They (Alabama) swung the bats well at the end of the game, but four of their seven runs that scored reached base on walks. Give them credit for getting hits when they had guys on, but that's what happens when you keep a good team like Alabama hanging around; one hit can drive in two runs, and that's what happened early on today. The story of the first six innings was too many walks. Their guys pounded the strike zone, and we didn't as frequently as we could have or should have. But Drake competed hard, they just pitched and played better than we did the last 12 outs of the ballgame. They played better tonight, so credit to them."

NEXT UP
South Alabama will return to action Saturday when it hosts Alabama in a doubleheader at 2 p.m. at Stanky Field. The series finale, originally scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch Sunday, was moved to Saturday due to expected inclement weather and will be played approximately 30 to 45 minutes after the conclusion of game two.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with USAJaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at Twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Dugout Club - the baseball-specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. Members enjoy all games from inside the Stadium Club with climate control, private restrooms, private concessions and access to listen to the radio broadcast. All donations to the Dugout Club go directly to support the South Alabama baseball program. For more information on how you can join visit JaguarAthleticFund.com.