Jags lose on walk-off single in 9th

JONESBORO, Ark. (WALA) - Arkansas State pinch-hitter Alex Potts delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat University of South Alabama baseball 2-1 Sunday afternoon at Kell Field.

ASU (26-19, 15-7 SBC) loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth on back-to-back singles by Logan Uxa and Claude Johnson, and a walk by Ryan Emery. Pinch-hitter Kaleb Brown tied the game when he reached on a hit by pitch before Potts’ game-winning single to right field.

Prior to Uxa’s leadoff single in the ninth, Jaguar right-hander Payton Gardner had retired 13 consecutive batters and not allowed a hit since the second inning. Gardner (0-5) suffered the loss in a career-high eight innings, allowing two runs on four hits with a career-best eight strikeouts and five walks.

"Payton (Gardner) was great today,” USA head coach Mark Calvi said. “He still had a few too many walks, but today he just threw strikes and the walks didn’t seem to bother him. He didn’t get deep into counts, and he put hitters away when he had them 0-2 and 1-2. I thought he was somewhat efficient; he had some quick innings.

“He had good stuff and he definitely pitched well enough to win today. We got to have three or four guys who can go out and get it done for us, and Payton showed today that he can do it. He has it in him; I saw him do it last year in junior college. Two of his last three starts have been really good, and hopefully he can build on that and take the reins and run with it.”

ASU right-hander Bradley Wallace (3-1) earned the win in two shutout innings in relief, and allowed two hits with a strikeout. Red Wolf starter Cory Kyle allowed just one run on one hit in seven innings with five strikeouts and three walks without factoring in the decision.

South Alabama (18-30, 12-12 SBC) held a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom-half of the last frame after J.T. Files doubled to the left-center gap with two outs in the top of the second to score Dustin Dalken, who reached on a walk earlier in the inning.

But following Files’ double, the Jags did not record a hit until Drew Cofield singled in the top of the ninth.

Files went 1-for-2 with a double and one RBI to lead South Alabama at the plate. Johnson finished 2-for-3 to lead Arkansas State.

USA will return to action next weekend when it hosts Western Kentucky in a three-game Sun Belt Conference series at Stanky Field.

-- South Alabama media services