JONESBORO, Ark. | h Alabama dropped the second game of its Sun Belt Conference series, dropping the series, to Arkansas State 13-6 at Tomlinson Stadium on Friday afternoon.
South Alabama (23-30, 11-18 SBC) was able to tie the game in the fourth inning at 1-all before Arkansas State (19-31, 8-19 SBC) scored six unanswered over the next two innings to take the lead for good. South Alabama fought its way back into the game with three runs in the top of the sixth trimming the deficit to 7-5, before Arkansas State was able to plate two more in the bottom half of the inning to keep the lead at four (9-5).
The Jags were led by
Cole Ketzner at the plate who finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored, while
Erick Orbeta went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Meanwhile,
Jackson Howard,
Micah Morgan, and
Joseph Sullivan each picked up a pair of hits.
Jeremy Lee (2-8) – the first of five pitchers - suffered the loss, working 3.2 innings and allowing four runs on four hits. He struck out three and walked five in the loss.
How It Happened
- (B1) Brandon Hager singled up the middle to score Blake Burris for the game's first run after South Alabama loaded the bases in the first, Arkansas State 1-0.
- (T4) Ketzner delivered with a two-out double to right center to score Hunter Donaldson to tie the game, 1-1.
- (B4) Wil French drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in a run before Burris delivered an RBI groundout. The inning was kept alive with another bases-loaded walk to Daedrick Cail to extend the lead, Arkansas State 4-1.
- (B5) Dylan DeButy extended the Red Wolves lead with a three-run home run to left center, Arkansas State 7-1.
- (T6) Orbeta lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Micah Morgan who led off the inning with a double before Will Turner singled to right center to score Ketzner, and Howard singled through the left side to drive in a run. Sullivan hit a high chopper into right field to score Turner to trim the deficit to two, Arkansas State 7-5.
- (B6) The Red Wolves responded with a two-run single from French to left to score a pair of runs, Arkansas State 9-5.
- (B8) French lined out to left for a sacrifice fly to drive in a run before Hager hit a three-run home run to right center, Arkansas State 13-5.
- (T9) Morgan singled home Ryan Storey for another Jags run, Arkansas State 13-6.
Up Next
South Alabama closes out the 2023 season against Arkansas State on Saturday in the regular season finale with first pitch scheduled for 1 pm.
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