South Alabama baseball was eliminated from the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Friday after its second straight 10-9 loss, falling to Florida International in an elimination game. The South Alabama baseball team finished the season 32-27.
The Jaguars opened the double-elimination tournament Wednesday with a win over FIU before losing to top-seeded Florida Atlantic in the second round, sending South Alabama into the losers’ bracket.
Late Rally Falls Short Against FAU
South Alabama trailed Florida Atlantic 10-4 entering the bottom of the eighth inning. The Jaguars loaded the bases with no outs but scored only two runs in the inning.
Down 10-6 in the ninth, South Alabama scored a run and again loaded the bases with nobody out. A fielder’s choice brought in another run, and a single to right field reloaded the bases. A sacrifice fly to right cut the deficit to 10-9, but the Jaguars stranded the remaining runners as the game ended.
Rematch With FIU
In Friday’s elimination game, FIU built an 8-1 lead through the first four innings. South Alabama answered with a six-run sixth inning to pull within 8-7.
The Jaguars tied the game 8-8 in the top of the seventh, but FIU scored twice in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead. South Alabama added a run in the eighth to make it 10-9.
In the ninth, the Jaguars got a one-out single to right field but could not advance the runner past first base. South Alabama left 12 runners on base in the loss.
Season Ends at 32-27
The loss closed South Alabama’s season with a 32-27 overall record. The Jaguars are coached by Steve Kittrell.
