Explosive Sixth Inning Catapults Alabama over Southern Miss

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 12 Alabama (28-6, 7-5) defeats No. 23 Southern Miss 10-6 behind a six-run explosion in the bottom of the sixth.

Matthew Heiberger earned the win on the bump for the Crimson Tide this evening, marking his third of the season. The southpaw pitched 1.1 innings, allowing no runners to reach while punching out three. Closer Carson Ozmer earned the save, his tenth of the season.

Aeden Finateri began the game on the mound for the Crimson Tide, allowing three hits and four earned runs in 2.1 innings of work.

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Southern Miss pitcher Kros Sivley was tagged with the loss. The southpaw allowed four earned runs over 0.2 innings.

Both teams entered the contest looking to right the ship after the two squads lost their respective series on the road last weekend.

After a scoreless first frame, the Golden Eagles ambushed the Crimson Tide in the top of the second, as shortstop Ozzie Pratt ripped a two-out two-run jack to center field to take a 2-0 lead.

Alabama began to answer in the bottom of the second. Will Hodo picked up the first hit of the day for the Tide with a one-out triple off the wall. Bryce Fowler worked a walk, but the Crimson Tide could not plate either, holding the deficit at 2-0.

The Golden Eagles took advantage and doubled their lead in the top of the third thanks to a pair of RBI singles, pushing the score to 4-0.

The Crimson Tide seemed doomed for a repeat of Friday's matchup against Auburn. However, Garrett Staton has something else in mind. The second baseman ripped a two-run shot to left center field to cut the Southern Miss lead in half in the fourth inning.

Following Staton's homerun, the Golden Eagles threatened to extend their lead in the sixth with runners on first and second with two outs. Matthew Heiberger entered the game, promptly picking up the final out of the inning to hold the score at 4-2.

The Crimson Tide order couldn't plate a Peyton Steele leadoff single in the fifth.

Heiberger shut down the Golden Eagles' batting order at the top of the sixth, punching out all three batters he faced.

The Crimson Tide flipped the script in the sixth inning, rattling off six runs to grab an 8-4 lead.

Alabama worked the bases loaded with no outs thanks to a pair of walks from Hodo and Snell, and Torres wearing an HBP. With one out, Sivley plunked Fowler to score a run for the Crimson Tide, cutting the USM lead to 4-3. Brady Neal followed up Fowler with a bases-clearing double down the left field line to jump the Crimson Tide out to a 6-4 lead.

Richie Bonomolo Jr. put the cherry on top of the inning, blasting a no-doubt homerun over the scoreboard in left to give the Crimson Tide a comfortable 8-4 lead.

The Golden Eagles began to claw back in the top of the eighth, tacking on two runs to cut the Alabama lead to 8-6. However, the Crimson Tide had an answer.

Peyton Steele, making his first start this evening, tattooed a 2-1 fastball down the left field line, keeping it just fair for his first collegiate home run and to give Alabama an insurance run. Alabama 9, Southern Miss 6.

Following back-to-back singles from Bonomolo Jr. and Lebron, Kade Snell came through with one of his own to score Bonomolo Jr. from second, extending the Tide lead to 10-6.

Carson Ozmer, who entered the game in the eighth inning, slammed the door on the Golden Eagles for his tenth save.

Alabama returns to action Friday at 6 p.m. CT against Mississippi State in game two of their four-game homestand.

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