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MOBILE, Ala. – Facing a 9-8 deficit heading into its final at-bat, University of South Alabama baseball rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat No. 29 Alabama 10-9 Saturday afternoon at Stanky Field in game three of the 26th Annual South Alabama Classic.

Alabama (4-2) was down to its last out in the top of the ninth inning trailing 8-6,  after Jaguar right-hander Cory McGinnis retired the first two batters of the inning. But a hit by pitch and two walks loaded the bases for the Crimson Tide. Alabama center fielder Taylor Dugas then hit a sharp ground ball that kicked to the first base foul line off of USA second baseman Logan Kirkland, which scored all three Tide runners and pushed the Alabama lead to 9-8.

But in the bottom of the ninth, the Jaguars loaded the bases on three consecutive walks by Nolan Earley, Kirkland, and Brad Hook. Jerry Roam then faced a 1-2 count from Tide right-hander Nathan Kennedy and hit a grounder back up the middle which was fielded by Kennedy, but his throw to home plate sailed right of catcher Brock Bennett, allowing Jaguar pinch-runner Corey Bryan and Kirkland to score to end the game.

“It’s a big win for us this early in the year,” South Alabama head coach Steve Kittrell said. “Alabama fought hard and so did we – neither team wanted to lose. It was a tough one for them to lose because they battled from behind too. But to beat [Nathan] Kilcrease, a weekend SEC guy, was big for us. I thought we battled hard against him. He’s a very good pitcher. It looked like it was going to be an easy ninth inning, but the momentum changed back to them. But our guys clutched up in the end when they needed to.”

In the bottom of the eighth, Jaguar freshman Jordan Patterson delivered his first career home run, a three-run shot to center field, to give South Alabama an 8-6 lead.

“I knew I had to get a good barrel on it; I was due for one,” Patterson said.  “He threw me two first-pitch balls, and I was gearing up for it and knew it was coming. I just got my foot down and got a good barrel on it. I knew once I hit it that I got it good. I didn’t think the center fielder was going to get to it. I knew it was in the gap, but I didn’t know it was going to go over the fence. Once it did, it was crazy.”

The win marked South Alabama’s fourth come-from-behind victory of the season.

Patterson went 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored to lead the Jaguars at the plate, while Overstreet finished 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and a run scored. Jeff DeBlieux went 2-for-4 with a double, the first of his career, two runs scored and an RBI.

South Alabama right-hander Kyle Dees (3-0) earned the win in 1/3 of an inning. Jason Zylstra (0-1) suffered the loss in 1/3 of an inning for Alabama, allowing two runs while issuing three walks.

Tide shortstop Jared Reaves went 3-for-5 with a double, home run, five RBI and a run scored to lead Alabama at the plate. Dugas went 2-for-6 with two doubles and two runs scored in the game.

Alabama held a 6-1 lead through four innings, aided by a three-run second inning in which eight Crimson Tide hitters came to the plate.

South Alabama answered in the bottom of the fifth with four runs on five hits with Jake Overstreet delivering the big blast, a three-run home run that sailed over “Kit’s Korner” behind the left field wall  to cut the Alabama lead to 6-5, and seemingly provided a spark to the Jaguar dugout.

However, Alabama held USA scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings before Patterson delivered the big blow in the bottom of the eighth.

South Alabama (5-1) will close the the 26th Annual South Alabama Classic Sunday afternoon when it takes on Southeastern Louisiana (5-1) at 2:30 p.m. at Stanky Field.

Alabama will face Central Florida (5-1) in the early game Sunday morning at 11 a.m. at Stanky Field.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

-USA-

NOTES:  South Alabama improved to 39-25 all-time in the South Alabama Classic with the win … The Jaguars are now 2-0 all-time against Alabama in the South Alabama Classic … USA also snapped a three-game losing skid to the Crimson Tide … Kittrell improved to 20-30 all-time against Alabama … Patterson recorded his first career home run at South Alabama and his second consecutive multiple-hit game … Overstreet hit his second home run of the season and ran his RBI total to 11 … Overstreet also made his 159th consecutive start at third base.