HAMMOND, La. | South Alabama battled back from a four-run deficit before tying the game in the eighth inning before falling to Southeastern Louisiana 5-4 in the final non-conference game of the year.
South Alabama (23-28) was held without a hit until a
Joseph Sullivan solo home run to lead off the top of the sixth inning to trim the deficit to three before
Austin Thrasher followed with a single for the second hit of the game before they were able to score in three consecutive innings beginning in the sixth to tie the game.
Zach Willingham (2-2) suffered the loss working out of the bullpen, the last of six pitchers used in the game. He worked just 0.1 innings and allowed a run on two hits in the bottom of the eighth inning.
How It Happened
- (B2) TJ Salvaggio led off the inning with a solo home run – his eighth of the season, Southeastern Louisiana 1-0.
- (B3) Connor Manola doubled to left to score Salvaggio who led off the inning with a triple, Southeastern Louisiana 2-0.
- (B5) Tyler Finke reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Dane Watts to score on the play before he came around to score on a Shea Thomas single up the middle, Southeastern Louisiana 4-0.
- (T6) Sullivan hit his team-leading 13th home run of the season to center, Southeastern Louisiana 4-1.
- (T7) Turner doubled home a pair of runs in two outs driving in Donaldson and Trey Lewis, Southeastern Louisiana 4-3.
- (T8) Donaldson laid down a bunt to score Erick Orbeta from third to tie the game, 4-4.
- (B8) Manola singled up the middle to plate the go-ahead run, Southeastern Louisiana 5-4.
Quotable, head coach Mark Calvi
General statement…
"I thought we pitched really well, pitched well enough to win. Did not do enough offensively. We had some chances, didn't get a bunt down. We didn't advance on a ball in the dirt that kicked, just some little things. We left nine men on base, had a chance, had some opportunities. We pitched well enough to win, unfortunate."Â
On preparing for the final conference series…
"We need to pitch well. We need to stop leaving so many men on base and take advantage of situations. We need to sacrifice, we need to move runners around where a single can score one or two and not be left out there."
Up Next
South Alabama closes out the regular season this week on the road at Arkansas State beginning Thursday night in Jonesboro (Ark.) with a 6 pm first pitch.
Follow the Jags
For complete coverage of University South Alabama baseball, follow the Jaguars on social media @SouthAlabamaBSB (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaAthletics (Facebook), @southalabamabsb on Instagram, or visit the official home of South Alabama athletics at USAJaguars.com.
Â
