MT Falls to South Alabama, 5-4, in Extra Innings

Friday, March 5

Mobile, AL

6:30 PM

Middle Tennessee

5-3

South Alabama

6-3

Middle Tennessee

South Alabama

3/5/2021 9:41:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: @MTAthletics

MOBILE, Ala.—Middle Tennessee faced an uphill battle on Friday night in Mobile, finding itself in a 4-0 hole after South Alabama jumped out to an early lead. The Blue Raiders were able to claw their way out of that hole by scoring four runs in the middle innings, setting things up for an exciting finish. Unfortunately, another dramatic win was not in the cards for MT as South Alabama outfielder Caleb Baalgard hit a walk off home run in the tenth inning to give the Jaguars a 5-4 win.

MT entered the sixth inning desperately needing a spark, offensively. Facing a 4-0 deficit in which Jaguar starter Jeremy Lee had cruised through five perfect innings, the Blue Raiders broke through when Mason Speirs hit a double off the wall in center field that nearly left the yard, scoring Brycen Thomas to get Middle Tennessee on the board. MT scored its' second run off a botched fly ball in the infield, setting the table for Brett Coker with the bases loaded and one out. The third baseman calmly sent a 2-1 off speed pitch through the left side of the Jaguar infield to bring Speirs and Mabry to tie the game at four.

The breakout sixth inning was the first time this year a team has been able to do any damage against South Alabama's Jeremy Lee, who was coming off a masterful performance in a win against Conference USA powerhouse Southern Mississippi in which he threw seven shutout innings.

MT sent Aaron Brown to the mound to begin the game. South Alabama used an early two-run home run in the second inning followed by back-to-back extra-base hits in the second and third innings, respectively, to jump out to a 4-0 lead.

Brown ate up five innings, giving up four earned runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and one walk, the first walk he's given up this season. The Mt. Juliet native remains 2-0 on the season with 26 strikeouts and just one walk allowed and a respectable 3.00 ERA.

Austin Cheeley came on in relief of Brown in the bottom of the sixth inning after MT tied the game and held his own, giving up just one run in four innings of work out of the bullpen. The big right-hander lowered his ERA by over four points in what was his longest outing of the year, thus far. Cheeley got some help defensively when Blue Raider left fielder Bryce Symlar made a spectacular catch in foul territory, reaching over the wall to nab the third and final out of the seventh inning with the go-ahead run on first.

Offensively for Middle Tennessee, Brett Coker led the way going 2-for-4 with two RBIs. DJ Wright, Brycen Thomas and Mason Speirs all collected a hit, with Speirs adding an RBI.

The Blue Raiders will continue the series with South Alabama tomorrow at Eddie Stankey Field. First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m.

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Anthony Fiorella is a writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @a_fiorella74 and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.