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MOBILE, Ala. – Middle Tennessee scored a pair of runs in the top of the 10th inning to defeat the University of South Alabama baseball team 4-2 in Sunday's rubber match at Stanky Field.

South Alabama (6-5) rallied to tie the game 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth on a two-out RBI single by Michael Sandle before Middle Tennessee (7-3) scored two runs in the top of the 10th en route to a series-clinching win. 

NEXT UP
South Alabama will return to action Tue., March 9, when it faces Alabama at 6 p.m. in Tuscaloosa. 

GAME FACTS
- Middle Tennessee scored the game's first run in the top of the fifth when Jake Hagenow scored from third on a throwing error by Jag catcher Reid Powers while attempting to throw out Hunter Sullivan on a steal of second. Brycen Thomas followed with an RBI single through the left side of the infield to score Sullivan and double the Blue Raider lead at 2-0.
- South Alabama cut the Middle Tennessee lead in half at 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh on a one-out solo home run to left field by Reid Powers on a 2-0 pitch from Blue Raider right-hander Zach Keenan. 
- Ethan Wilson singled to left field to lead off the top of the ninth, and was lifted for pinch-runner Drake Dobyanski, who advanced to second with one out on a sacrifice bunt by Powers. Blue Raider left-hander David Zoz recorded the second out of the frame on a comeback line drive off the bat of Bennett Shell. Michael Sandle then delivered a two-out RBI single through the right side of the infield to score Dobyanski and tie the score 2-2.
- Hagenow led off the top of the 10th with a double, stole second with no outs, and scored on an RBI double down the left field line by Bryce Symlar for a 3-2 Middle Tennessee lead. Symlar then stole third with no outs before Luke Vinson delivered an RBI bunt single to first base to score Symlar and double the Blue Raider lead at 4-2. 

NOTES
- Powers extended his on-base streak to seven games with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. It marked his first home run of the season. 
- Montiel's on-base streak was snapped at 14 games.
- Booker tossed a career-high eight innings, and allowed two unearned runs on three hits with eight strikeouts and two walks without factoring in the decision.
- Wilson finished with a game-high two hits, while Powers and Sandle added one hit and one RBI apiece.
- Blue Raider starting right-handed pitcher Zach Keenan allowed one run on four hits with five strikeouts without issuing a walk in 7 2/3 innings, but did not factor in the decision.  

QUOTES
Head Coach Mark Calvi 
- On JoJo Booker:
"JoJo was good. He gave us every opportunity to win. Our pitching, for the most part, in probably 85 percent of our games this year, has given us a chance to win. It was no different today. I thought Booker was really good."

- On the team's character:
"This team does have character. We have some older guys and they showed a lot of fight, but it also says we need to do more early in the game too. Through six innings we had three hits, and I give their (Middle Tennessee) guy (Zach Keenan) credit. He was good, but not three hits good. We have some guys who aren't quite swinging it well, some of our better guys that need to start swinging it better. I told the guys after the game that we are close. Pitching has given us an opportunity in pretty much every single game we've played, and our offense and defense need to be a notch to two notches better, especially late in ballgames. I give our guys credit for fighting back and hanging in there, but we need to do more early on in the game so we're not put in that position."

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