MOBILE, Ala. — Seventh-seeded South Alabama baseball fell to second-seeded UT Arlington 8-4 Wednesday night in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at Eddie Stanky Field, sending the Jaguars into the elimination bracket.
The Mavericks built an 8-0 lead through five innings before South Alabama rallied for three runs in the sixth and one more in the ninth.
Mavericks Break It Open in the Fifth
UT Arlington led 4-0 entering the bottom of the fifth inning and doubled that margin in the frame. The leadoff hitter was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a bunt single, and a walk loaded the bases. Travis Sibley followed with a three-run double down the left-field line, and Sibley later scored on an RBI double to make it 8-0.
Jaguars Answer in the Sixth
South Alabama responded in the top of the sixth. Connor Hawthorne drew a leadoff walk, Cameron Cummings reached on a fielding error by Sibley and Davis Knapp walked to load the bases with two outs.
Drew LaBounty lined a two-run single down the right-field line to score Hawthorne and Cummings, and DeGallier doubled down the left-field line to bring home Knapp, trimming the deficit to 8-3.
The Jaguars added their final run in the top of the ninth on a two-out RBI single by Hayden Jones.
On the Mound
UT Arlington right-hander Daniel Milliman improved to 6-0, allowing three unearned runs on five hits with three strikeouts and five walks.
South Alabama starter Ben Taylor (3-5) took the loss after allowing four runs on five hits over 3 2/3 innings, with four strikeouts and four walks. Matt Bell provided 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, giving up one hit while striking out three and walking two.
- Ben Taylor (L, 3-5): 3 2/3 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 4 K
- Matt Bell: 3 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
- Daniel Milliman (W, 6-0): 5 H, 3 unearned runs, 5 BB, 3 K
Elimination Game Thursday
South Alabama returns to action Thursday at 12:30 p.m. against third-seeded Arkansas State in an elimination game. Arkansas State lost its first-round game to sixth-seeded Troy 4-3 in 13 innings earlier Wednesday.
Thursday’s other elimination game, at 9 a.m., pairs fifth-seeded Western Kentucky against eighth-seeded Louisiana-Monroe.
