Box Score

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Heston Kjerstad delivered a two-out, two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift No. 10 Arkansas to a 5-3 win over University of South Alabama baseball in Sunday's rubber match at Baum-Walker Stadium. 

Center fielder Christian Franklin singled through the left side of the infield with two outs in the ninth before Kjerstad lifted a 2-2 pitch from Jaguar right-hander Noah Michael over the right field wall for the win.

 GAME FACTS
- South Alabama jumped out to one-run lead in the top of the first inning. Ethan Wilson singled to left field with one out, advanced to second on a wild pitch from Arkansas right-hander Kole Ramage and scored on a one-out RBI single through the right side of the infield by Reid Powers for a 1-0 Jaguar lead. Michael Sandle followed with a double to left-center field to put two runners in scoring position with one out. Dakota Dailey drew a two-out walk to load the bases for Andrew Bates, but Ramage induced an inning-ending groundout to escape the jam.
- Franklin led off the bottom of the first with a triple to right field, and scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Matt Goodheart to tie the game at 1-1.
- Braydon Webb reached on a throwing error by JoJo Booker on a grounder back to the mound, and advanced to second with no outs on a throwing error by Booker on a failed pickoff attempt at first and moved to third with one out on a wild pitch by Booker. Jacob Nesbit popped up the shortstop for the second out of the frame before Booker struck out Cole Austin to escape the inning.
- Sandle reached on a hit by pitch to lead off the top of the third, and scored one batter later on an RBI triple to the left-center gap by Kaleb DeLaTorre for a 2-1 Jaguar lead. Dailey followed with an RBI groundout to shortstop to plate DeLaTorre for a 3-1 advantage.
- Franlin led off the bottom of the third with a solo home run to left field to cut the USA lead to 3-2. Heston Kjerstad followed with a double down the left field line, and advanced to third on a flyout to center field by Casey Martin. Booker struck out Robert Moore for the second out of the frame before Webb delivered a two-out RBI single through the left side of the infield to score Kjerstad and tie the game at 3-3 before Kjerstad's game-winning home run in the ninth inning.

NOTES
- Booker allowed three runs on four hits with four strikeouts and four walks in five innings pitched without factoring in the decision.
- Michael (0-1) allowed two runs on two hits with two strikeouts and one walk in 3 2/3 innings pitched. 
- Six Jaguars hit safely in the game, led by Sandle who finished 2-for-4 with a double and one run scored, and Wilson finished 2-for-5 with one run scored.
- Arkansas' Elijah Trest and Zebulon Vermillion combined to allow one hit with 10 strikeouts and two walks in six scoreless relief innings.
 
QUOTES
Head Coach Mark Calvi
- On the loss:
"That was a great college baseball game, the only thing I didn't like was the result. I thought our guys competed like crazy. We got our noses rubbed in it yesterday. But I thought our guys came out in a rubber match and competed. We were in a position to win, just didn't get that hit when we needed it. (JoJo) Booker and (Noah) Michael competed like crazy on the mound, and all you can ask of your pitchers is to give you a chance and that's what they did. I'm proud of our guys' effort. We came to the park today firmly believing that we were going to win and take the series, and we were right there. At some point, you get that hit, but there's no moral victories. It's about getting that hit and winning that ballgame right there, and our players know that. I complimented their effort and told them I was disappointed we lost, but I know they are too. Our guys are disappointed; they believed we were going to win two out of three when we showed up today. It didn't go our way, and we'll head home, get better on Tuesday (at practice) and go to Alex Box (Stadium) fully expecting to win on Wednesday night."

- On positives to take away from the weekend:
"We had some guys who were struggling offensively raised their numbers against an SEC pitching staff. That usually doesn't happen. We stood in there toe-to-toe with them for two of three games. I told our guys we need to come to work Tuesday ready to go. We can't feel sorry for ourselves; I don't feel sorry for them or myself. I'm looking forward to Tuesday and seeing their effort, and when Wednesday comes I will be looking forward to the (LSU) game. But I did see some good things this weekend. There are a couple of guys swinging the bats better, and stood in there really well against some good arms and traded blows and competed toe-to-toe. If this is a sign of moving forward then I like it, but there's no guarantees. Just because you came up here and play well, all of a sudden you're going to break through. You have to keep up the right attitude and work ethic, but the numbers will eventually shake out. It's taken a little longer than we all would expected or feel good with, but I feel confident that there are some guys whose seasons have not gone their way that will when it shakes out in the end."

NEXT UP
South Alabama will return to action Wed., March 11, when it travels to Baton Rouge, La., for a 6 p.m. matchup at No. 20 LSU.

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.