TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama rallied with two outs in the ninth to claim an 9-8 decision over Jacksonville State on Tuesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
It was a walk-off double by Sam Praytor that handed the Crimson Tide their first win over the Gamecocks in four tries over the last two seasons as JSU was an out away from posting four consecutive wins over their in-state rival. The two programs split the season series with JSU shutting out UA, 4-0, in early April in Tuscaloosa. Praytor's double was just inside the third base bag and in to the corner as Joe Breaux, who reached base with a walk was safe on a play at the plate for the winning run. Cobie Vance tallied UA's first hit off of Jax State pitching since the third inning with a one-out single to left off of senior Trent Simpson. JSU dropped to 24-21 on the season, while UA improved to .500 on the season at 25-25.
The Gamecocks were looking to seal the deal on a come-from-behind win after erasing a 5-0 deficit after the first inning and a three-run hole after three complete innings. UA touched JSU starter Andrew Naismith for five runs in its first at bat with a big hit coming from John Trousdale. He cleared the bases with a two-out double to the right center gap. Naismith, who was making his third start of the season – all in midweek contests, went the first 2.1 innings and was touched for six of UA's eight hits on the night. The Auburn, Alabama left hander recorded four strikeouts in a no decision.
Jax State quickly answered the Crimson Tide's big inning with a four-run second inning. The Red and White strung together four hits and capitalized on one of UA's two errors on the night in the second inning. Freshman Alex Strachan, who had his best game to date as a Gamecock, turned in an RBI double as one of his team-best three hits on the night. After Tuscaloosa, Alabama product Cole Frederick reached via a UA miscue that pushed the second run of the inning across the dish, sophomore Chase Robinson connected on his third home run of the season – all three coming in the last four game.
Strachan, from Harvest, Alabama, finished with three RBI with a single in the sixth that erased a 7-6 Crimson Tide lead and handed the Gamecocks an 8-7 lead.
UA pushed the lead back out to 7-4 in the third as Praytor started the frame with a solo home run and a sacrifice fly in the inning. The home run would be the last hit UA would get off of JSU pitching until the ninth.
Junior Austin Brewster turned in one of his best outings and his second-longest stint in relief with 3.2 innings of work. The Trussville, Alabama transfer from Shelton State,posted a pair of strikeouts and walked one. The Gamecocks went with freshman Christian Edwards for the seventh and eighth. He avoided trouble in the seventh with a double play in the inning to thwart a Bama rally. Edwards worked around a two-out walk in the eighth.
The Gamecocks collected 12 hits off of six Crimson Tide tossers with five spots in the order having multiple hits. Senior Clayton Daniel added two more hits to push his career mark to 310 career hits and stands 13 shy of matching the JSU and Ohio Valley Conference record for career hits. Senior Taylor Hawthorne was welcomed back to the line up and recorded two hits. Junior Nic Gaddis and Robinson had two hits each. Robinson, from Pell City, Alabama, added a triple after his home run in the second.
The Gamecocks will begin their final homestand of the 2018 regular season at Choccolocco Park on Wednesday, hosting Samford. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. JSU will look to split the season set with the Bulldogs after falling 9-3 on February 20 in Birmingham.
