South Alabama defeated the University of Louisiana Monroe 5-4 in a walk-off victory on March 20, with Paxton Bigby delivering an RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning at Stanky Field.
The win gives South Alabama a 15-7 overall record and evens their Sun Belt Conference mark at 2-2. The game was closely contested, with both teams exchanging leads before Bigby’s decisive hit secured the Jaguars’ victory.
Blake Guerin started the scoring for South Alabama by hitting his sixth home run of the season, driving in three runs in the first inning. ULM responded in the third inning with two runs, but Stewart Puckett answered for South Alabama with a solo home run. ULM tied the game later on a solo homer and an RBI single. In the ninth, Brennon Wright led off with a bunt single and eventually scored on Bigby’s hit after two strikeouts had put pressure on South Alabama’s offense.
Head coach Mark Calvi said, “Monroe is different. They’ve done a great job over there. They got guys that can go deep and they’re hard to strike out. I thought Mitch and Shine did a really nice job today. Mitch had to work, had good velo early, but he settled in and they got a little more comfortable the next time through. Mitch hung in there and Shineflew was fantastic.” Calvi also commented on Bigby’s performance: “Bigby with a few hits and then the game winner at the end is good to say because Paxton has really struggled the last couple weeks. He got off to such a good start but the last couple weeks hasn’t been where he was early on, but he’s kept a level head and kept showing up and working.”
Pitcher Mitchell Heer threw six-and-two-thirds innings for South Alabama, allowing three earned runs while striking out three batters. Jaxon Shineflew earned his third win of the season after pitching three-and-a-third innings; he allowed one earned run—his first since opening day—and struck out six.
The series continues Saturday afternoon at Stanky Field.
