HATTIESBURG, Miss.- Southern Miss defeated the Crimson Tide 6-5 in the elimination game at the Hattiesburg regional, ending the Crimson Tide's season. The Golden Eagles were propelled by a three-spot in the bottom of the eighth inning.

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This game featured six home runs, accounting for nine of the ten runs scored by both teams. The Crimson Tide started the derby-style elimination game in the top of the third inning. Crimson Tide’s designated hitter, Will Plattner, went yard for his first time this year with the Tide’s back-up catcher bringing home one run to put the Tide up 1-0 going into the bottom half of the third inning.

The Crimson Tide’s one-run advantage didn’t stand long with the Golden Eagles’ second baseman Nick Monistere hitting his first home run in today’s ball game, with his first time going yard being in the bottom of the third inning to bring home two runs, giving Southern Miss a 2-1 lead over Alabama going into the fourth inning.

The fourth inning saw the teams flip-flop with Alabama driving home two runs thanks to first baseman Will Hodo sending a two-run rocket over left field to give the Tide a one-run lead, but in the bottom of the inning, Southern Miss tied the game back up with a home run from left fielder Ben Higdon, who sent a solo shot over center field to make it a 3-3 game going into the fifth inning.

Alabama’s starting pitcher Tyler Fay had a solid day on the mound, with the right-handed pitcher recording three strikeouts and only allowing six hits, two of those being home runs, which accounted for his three earned runs throughout the six innings Fay was on the mound in Saturday’s loss.

This contest stayed the same until the top of the seventh inning when once again the Tide hit another home run, this one being from right fielder Bryce Fowler, who went yard for the seventh time of the season, with this one bringing home two runs for the Tide to put the team in Crimson up two runs going into the bottom of the seventh.

Alabama reliever Braylon Myers was called up from the bullpen to take over for Fay, with Myers having a solid outing in the seventh inning, which saw the pitcher record one strikeout and leave the Golden Eagles with a runner stranded on first base.

With six outs remaining and a commanding two-run lead, Alabama appeared to be on its way to victory. However, the Golden Eagles refused to concede the game early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Monistere blasted a solo home run for his second of the game, putting Southern Miss within one run of tying this game up. Despite Alabama's All-SEC First Teamer Carson Ozmer entering the game to close it out, the outstanding bullpen pitcher had a tough start. He hit the first hitter he saw at the plate and walked the second.

Ozmer and the Tide recorded their first out of the inning with a fielder's choice to third base, cutting off the tying run. Alabama elected to intentionally walk Carson Paetow, leaving the bases loaded, and Golden Eagles catcher Tucker Stockman got his first hit of the season with the bases loaded. This one was a single that scored two runs to put the Golden Eagles ahead by one with three outs remaining in the elimination game.

The Crimson Tide's 2024–2025 season ended when Richie Bonomolo Jr. failed to take advantage of the opportunity with a ground out to third base. This was after Snell and Neal were walked and Fowler hit a single to center field, allowing Alabama to load the bases and appear capable of not only making a comeback but also taking the lead.

Stat Leaders

• Hits- Bryce Fowler (3)
• HRs- Will Plattner (Solo HR), Will Hodo (Two-Run HR), and Bryce Fowler (Two-Run HR)
• RBI’s- Bryce Fowler and Will Hodo (2)
• Strikeouts- Tyler Fay (3)

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