South Alabama’s Four-Run Seventh Inning Sinks Alabama in 6-3 Midweek Loss

MOBILE, Ala. – Alabama dropped its second midweek game of the season in a sloppy 6-3 loss to South Alabama on Tuesday night, committing five errors in the defeat.

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The game started with the Crimson Tide tacking on two runs in the first three innings. In the top of the second, second baseman Brennan Holt hit a groundout RBI that brought home Tuscaloosa native Eric Hines, who had picked up a single earlier in the inning. It was Hines’s second hit of his collegiate career, with his first being a solo home run in Alabama’s 8-7 win over Oregon State on February 28.

Alabama’s second run came in the top of the third inning, when third baseman Jason Torres hit an RBI single to right field to drive home shortstop Justin Lebron, who had doubled to left-center to open the inning. Lebron’s run gave the Tide a two-run lead heading into the bottom of the third.

Despite South Alabama not scoring until the bottom of the fifth inning, thanks to a throwing error by Alabama’s shortstop that made it a 2-1 game, the Jaguars had plenty of chances early, stranding nine runners in the first four innings. Six of those came in the bottom of the first and third with South Alabama loading the bases in both of those innings, but the Tide held them off each time.

This effort came from Bobby Alcock and Luke Smyers, who both pitched in the first four innings. Alcock, a senior, started on the mound and scattered four hits, allowed no runs, and struck out two batters over two innings. Smyers, a freshman, entered from the bullpen in the top of the third to relieve Alcock, pitching two innings himself. Smyers allowed two hits, one run, and struck out four batters before being pulled in the bottom of the fifth after walking the first two batters.

The Crimson Tide extended its lead in the top of the seventh when center fielder Bryce Fowler scored on a wild pitch after singling to left field earlier in the inning. This made it a 3-1 game heading into the bottom of the seventh.

At this point of the game, South Alabama had stranded 15 runners on base through six innings. In the seventh, however, the Jaguars finally capitalized, scoring four runs. Third baseman Stewart Puckett singled to right field to drive in two runs and tie the game at three. In the next at-bat, Blake Guerin hit another single to bring in two more runs, giving South Alabama its first lead of the night and making it 5-3 heading into the final two innings.

Alabama did not respond, as South Alabama’s Zack Stevens pitched the final three innings, allowing just one hit, no runs, and striking out five of the ten batters he faced. The performance improved his record to 2-1 on the season after he was given the win.

The Jaguars added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth when Ethan Melton hit an RBI single up the middle to make it 6-3, which remained the final score.

Alabama falls to 15-7 on the season after dropping its second midweek game, following a 14-4 run-rule loss to then-No. 12 Southern Mississippi on February 24. The Crimson Tide will look to break its four-game losing streak this week in its SEC home opener against No. 18 Florida, with game one set for Friday at 6 p.m. CT.

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