MOBILE, Ala. — Benn Gann lined a walk-off double in the bottom of the 11th inning Tuesday night as South Alabama baseball rallied from an early five-run deficit to beat Mississippi State 8-7 at Eddie Stanky Field.
The win was the Jaguars’ third of the season over a Southeastern Conference opponent and improved South Alabama to 19-10. Mississippi State fell to 19-12.
Jaguars Climb Out of Early Hole
Mississippi State scored five runs in the top of the first inning, but South Alabama answered with two in the bottom half.
Cole Billingsley reached on a bunt single to first base, stole second and scored on a two-out RBI single by Danny Martinez. Jared Barnes, who had drawn a two-out walk, later scored from second base when Cole Gleason’s ball up the middle was misplayed for an error, cutting the lead to 5-2. Adam Ballew walked to load the bases before a strikeout ended the inning.
South Alabama pulled even in the second. Ryan Raspino led off with a single, and Matt Bolger tripled to right-center field to drive in two runs. Barnes then grounded out to second base, bringing Bolger home to tie the game 5-5.
Gann’s First Career Homer Ties It Again
The Bulldogs went back in front 7-5 on a two-out, two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning.
Gann answered in the bottom of the fifth with a one-out, two-run homer, the first home run of his South Alabama career, to tie the game at 7.
Bullpen Escapes Late Jams
Mississippi State loaded the bases in the top of the ninth on three straight one-out singles. Right-hander Ben Taylor struck out the next batter and then got an inning-ending groundout to shortstop.
The Bulldogs threatened again in the 10th when Brown led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. South Alabama intentionally walked Gavin Collins, and Humphreys grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Walk-Off in the 11th
With one out in the bottom of the 11th, Cameron Cummings and Ballew drew back-to-back walks. Gann drove an 0-1 pitch to left-center field, scoring Cummings with the winning run.
Cody Van Aken pitched two scoreless innings of relief to earn his second win of the season, striking out two and walking one.
Leaders at the Plate
Gann finished 2-for-6 with a double, a home run, a career-high three RBI and a run scored. Bolger also went 2-for-6, with a double, a triple, two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base.
Barnes doubled, drove in a run and scored once. Billingsley had two hits, scored a run and stole a base.
Up Next
South Alabama hosts Jackson State on Wednesday at Eddie Stanky Field, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m.
