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University of South Alabama Athletics

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#OURCITY
6
Winner South Alabama USABB 12-5
5
Mississippi State MSU 12-5
Winner
South Alabama USABB
12-5
6
Final
5
Mississippi State MSU
12-5
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
South Alabama USABB 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 2 6 8 0
Mississippi State MSU 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 10 1

W: Starling, Gant (3-0) L: Auger, Brooks (0-1) S: Wood, Grant (4)

Johnson running across the plate

Game Recap: Baseball |

South Sparks Six-Run Comeback to Beat Mississippi State

BILOXI, Miss. - South Alabama mounted a five-inning comeback to defeat Mississippi State, 6-5.

The Jags and Bulldogs worked through the first three innings scoreless with six strikeouts for MSU, and South allowed four hits but the heroics of Ethan Melton threw out a runner advancing home from right field at the plate. 

The Bulldogs found contact in the fourth inning, hitting a three-run home run to strike first, then landing a double before a second home run netted them five runs for the inning. Head Coach Mark Calvi exchanged words with the umpire before being thrown out of the game.

The Jaguars responded with fervor as the first three batters reached base, including an RBI double for Rett Johnson in his first collegiate start. Turner then sent him home as part of a two-RBI single that put the score 5-3. The Jags continued to chip away at the lead with a Joseph Sullivan single that allowed Tyler Borges to score. 

South Alabama pitching, from the fifth inning on, allowed only three of the next 18 batters.

In the top of the ninth with one out, pinch hitter Robbie Petracci laid a single into left field and was subbed out for Ryan Storey as a pinch runner. Will Turner held fast for a walk to represent the go-ahead run. With Ethan Melton, the Mississippi native to bat, he struck a clutch double in the left-center gap to send both Storey and Turner home.

Grant Wood stepped up to the mound, and after allowing a single, forced a line out, a ground out, then intentionally walked the next batter to set up the final out. Wood then generated a groundout to first to clinch the win.

Winning Pitcher: Gant Starling (3-0)
Losing Pitcher: Brooks Auger (0-1)
Save: Grant Wood (4)

UP NEXT
South Alabama returns to Stanky Field to open conference play against Georgia State, with game one on Friday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m.

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.
 
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Scoring Summary

Score By Innings
Play USABB MSU
MSU BOT 4th Larry homered to left field, 3 RBI; Powell scored; Hujsak scored. 0 3
MSU BOT 4th Jordan homered to right field, 2 RBI; Mershon scored. 0 5
USABB TOP 5th Johnson doubled down the 3b line, RBI; Bell advanced to third; Holt scored. 1 5
USABB TOP 5th Turner singled to left center, 2 RBI; Johnson scored; Bell scored. 3 5
USABB TOP 7th Sullivan singled up the middle, RBI; Turner advanced to third; Borges scored. 4 5
USABB TOP 9th Melton doubled to left center, 2 RBI; Turner scored; Storey scored. 6 5

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