MOBILE, Ala. (5/7/11) - The South Alabama Jaguars (24-23, 11-12) rallied from a 7-3 deficit with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game on a grand slam from first baseman Brad Hook, then went on to defeat Arkansas State 8-7 Saturday afternoon in game two of a Sun Belt Conference series at Stanky Field.
The Jaguars got the win in the 10th when third baseman Jack Overstreet delivered a walk-off RBI single to send home the winning run and take a 2-0 lead in the series.
"When you play that close of a game and you feel like you've done some things right, and it doesn't come to you, you hurt." said ASU head coach Tommy Raffo. "At the same time, this game will teach you a lot of things. You've got to get back up tomorrow because it's a new day."
The Red Wolves looked to be in control heading into the ninth with a 7-3 advantage after senior right fielder Todd Baumgartner went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBI's, and senior starter Brad Allen had fanned seven batters to lead the Red Wolves (22-27, 10-13).
Allen gave up a pair of runs in the first that put the Red Wolves in an early hole, but settled in over the next six innings without surrendering an earned run. After giving up three hits and issuing two walks in the first inning, Allen allowed just five more hits and walked two batters over the next six frames, throwing 122 pitches on the day.
"Brad gave us a chance," said Raffo. "He had a quality start and did a really good job for us, and I am proud of what he accomplished. It was a shaky first inning, but he recovered and gave us an opportunity."
South Alabama jumped out to the 2-0 first-inning advantage when right fielder Nolan Earley delivered a two-run single into left field.
Arkansas State answered in the fourth when Baumgartner bounced a three-run home run off of the scoreboard in left field. Baumgartner drove in second baseman Zach Maggio and designated hitter Ryan Emery, who both singled to open the inning for the Red Wolves.
The Jaguars tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double from shortstop Logan Kirkland, but Baumgartner picked up his fourth RBI of the game when he laced a fifth-inning single into left field that scored center fielder Michael Faulkner from third. Faulkner singled to lead off the inning for the Red Wolves, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Maggio and advanced to third on a single from Emery before scoring on Baumgartner's base hit. Emery scored from third later in the frame on a wild pitch to stretch ASU's lead to 5-3.
Arkansas State padded its lead to 7-3 with two runs in the eighth. Baumgartner singled and eventually scored on a single from left fielder Logan Uxa, and first baseman Brandon Milhouse came home from third when catcher Tyler Smith grounded into a double play.
The Jaguars loaded the bases in the ninth on a pair of singles and a walk against ASU junior Cory Kyle before tying the game on Hook's grand slam over the right field wall. Sophomore Daniel Wright (1-4) took the loss for the Red Wolves, giving up one run on one hit, with a walk and no strikeouts.
Phillip Byrd (2-0) picked up the win on the mound for South Alabama, giving up no runs on no hits, with a walk and a strikeout in one and one-thirds innings. Starter Dustin Crenshaw worked five innings for the Jags, giving up five runs, all earned, on 10 hits, with no walks and three strikeouts.
Hook led South Alabama at the plate with two hits and four RBI's
The two teams will now wrap up the series Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
