HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Alabama baseball was defeated 14-4 on Tuesday by No. 12 Southern Miss (7-1) in eight innings at Pete Taylor Park, as the Crimson Tide fell to 7-2 on the young season. The game was made official after eight innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Luke Vaughn was the only member of the Tide to manage multiple hits, posting a 2-for-3 line with one home run and three RBI. Vaughn lined an RBI single in his first turn at the plate in the opening frame before lifting a two-run home run in the 4th. Jason Torres’ sacrifice fly drove in the first of the Tide’s two runs in the 1st, as the senior finished 0-for-3. Bryce Fowler and Peyton Steele accounted for one hit apiece.

JT Blackwood (0-1) made his second midweek start of the season and was hit with the loss after surrendering six hits and five earned runs over 2.0 innings on Tuesday. On a difficult night, the bullpen was unable to slow down the momentum of the hosting Golden Eagles. Connor Lehman worked out of inherited trouble in the 3rd, but was on the hook for two earned runs, two hits and two walks in his 1.0 inning of work. In an attempt to halt Southern Miss in the 4th, Evan Steckmesser surrendered five runs on three hits and two walks while notching just one out.

Bobby Alcock kept USM at bay across his 1.2 innings, scattering two hits and a walk with two punchouts in a scoreless outing. Luke Smyers, Joe Chiarodo and Tate Roberston were collectively responsible for two unearned runs across 2.1 innings with each man recording a strikeout.

How It Happened

• T1 | Bryce Fowler led off the inning with a single, while an error on a potential double play ball was mishandled, putting two men on base. After a productive out advanced both Fowler and Justin Lebron into scoring position, Jason Torres produced a sacrifice fly to center to score Fowler. Lebron then stole third, allowing for Luke Vaughn to line an RBI single into left. (2-0, Alabama)
• B1 | The Golden Eagles managed a one-out doubled that later scored following a two-out single. (2-1, Alabama)
• B2 | USM opened the inning with a single before a double to left placed two in scoring position. After a walk loaded the bases, Ben Higdon slugged a grand slam to center to give the hosts the lead. (5-2, Southern Miss)
• T4 | John Lemm was walked on four pitches, with Vaughn lining a two-run homer to off the left field scoreboard to trim the deficit to just one run. (5-4, Southern Miss)
• B4 | Consecutive walks to open the Golden Eagles’ half of the inning put two men on, with a bunt single loading the bases with no outs. A bases-loaded walk forced in a run which was followed by a two-run single through the right side. A one-out walk again loaded the bases, leading to Kyle Morrison’s grand slam. (12-4, Southern Miss)
• B7 | The Golden Eagles earned a one-out walk, with the runner moving to third after a throwing error at second spoiled a potential double play. Following the error, the home side lined an RBI single into right field to plate a run. (13-4, Southern Miss)
• B8 | A one-out walk would come around to score the game-ending run, with a passed ball advancing the runner to scoring position and a throwing error towards second by Tate Roberston sailing into center, enabling the walk-off run to come home. (14-4, Southern Miss)

Postgame Notes

• John Lemm was 0-for-2 but drew two walks and was hit by a pitch to extend his on-base streak to 42 games, a streak that began on March 22 last season
• Luke Vaughn’s three RBI on Tuesday marks a new career high, surpassing his previous best of two RBI set twice previously this season
• Vaughn has also now reached base in each of his last six games
• Peyton Steele extended his hitting streak to seven consecutive games
• Justin Lebron has now reached base in each of his last nine games
• The Crimson Tide has now stolen at least one base in each of its first nine games and are a perfect 16-of-16 in its attempts so far this season
• Attendance: 5,538

Up Next

• Alabama will travel to the Lone Star State to begin its time at the Frisco College Baseball Classic starting Friday, Feb. 27
• The Crimson Tide’s opening contest in Frisco against Iowa is set for a 6 p.m. CT first pitch, airing on D1Baseball.com