Alabama Baseball Loses to 23rd Ranked South Alabama

The Alabama baseball team lost 8-2 to the 23rd ranked South Alabama Jaguars on Wednesday night, breaking their three game winning streak. With the loss the Tide fell to 23-15 on the season while USA improved to 28-10.

Freshman Kyle Cameron got the start on the mound for the Tide, and was staked to a 1-0 lead after three innings when Hunter Webb, Georgie Salem and Chandler Avant singled, with Avant's hit plating Webb. Salem's hit gave him a 10 game hitting streak.

USA didn't allow the lead to last long, scoring five times in the top of the fourth off of Cameron on five hits and one walk. The first batter in the fifth tripled off the wall, chasing Cameron in favor of Ray Castillo, who walked two and gave up a hit to score two more runs.

'Bama never really threatened until the eighth when they scored their other run on an Avant double and an RBI single by Chance Vincent. Jaguar starter Randy Bell kept the Tide at bay all night, allowing eight hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in eight innings. Bell also allows both Tide runs. Cody Van Aken finished the game off, pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

Cameron was the losing pitcher, dropping his record to 2-2, after allowing seven hits, six runs with two walks in four complete innings. Ray Castillo pitched 2.1 innings and allowed one hit, three walks and two runs. Zac Rogers had 1.2 scoreless innings, and Colton Freeman continued his bid for more time on the mound, pitching a scoreless, hitless ninth inning with one walk and two strikeouts. Freeman has pitched five innings this season, allowing one hit, two walks and has notched 12 strikeouts.

USA outhit the Tide nine to eight and drew six walks to just three for 'Bama. Avant was the hot stick for Alabama, collecting three hits, with two doubles and a run driven in along with a run scored. Avant is hitting at a .435 clip over the last 11 games, and after a slow start to the season has now raised his average to .280.

The Tide now travels to College Station to take on the third-ranked Aggies this weekend. A&M is 30-7 on the season, 10-5 in the SEC and 22-1 at home this season. Friday's first game will be played at 6:30 p.m, while Saturday's game is set for 2:00 p.m and Sunday's at 1:00 p.m. All games will be available on SEC Network Plus.

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