MOBILE, Ala. (4/12/24) – Arkansas State baseball (16-19, 3-10 SBC) was down by two runs going into the seventh, but South Alabama (19-15, 5-8 SBC) used a late surge to pull away by a score of 10-3 on Friday night at Stanky Field.
 
Jelle van der Lelie (2-5) made his ninth start of the season, surrendering three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out five over 5.2 innings pitched. Blake Burris and Daedrick Cail combined for four of the seven hits for A-State, with the latter also recording two RBIs.
 
Both teams combined for only five hits in the first three innings of play, but South Alabama was able to strike first during that span. Duncan Mathews hit a grounder through the right side in the second to give the Jaguars a 2-0 advantage.
 
The Red Wolves would not respond until the fourth inning when Allen Grier recorded an RBI-groundout to second base. Two innings later, South Alabama loaded the bases with two outs before Mathews scored on a walk, making the score 3-1.
 
The Jaguars loaded the bases again in the seventh, but this time there were no outs on the board. A two-run double from Ethan Melton was followed with an RBI-single by JG Bell and a sacrifice bunt for Hunter Donaldson.
 
Mathews singled to right center and brought in his third RBI before Will Turner launched a two-run homer over the right-field wall. Turner capped off a seven-run frame as South Alabama took a 10-1 lead into the eighth.
 
Cail fired a two-run blast to the flagpole behind left field, but it would not be enough as the Scarlet and Black fell by seven runs. Mitchell Heer (1-1) earned the win while van der Lelie took the loss.

NEXT UP
Arkansas State resumes their series with South Alabama on Saturday, April 13 at Stanky Field. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. on ESPN+ and can be heard on 95.3/96.9 The Ticket Radio Network along with the A-State Red Wolves mobile app.
 
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