Alabama A & M Athletics

Box Score / Alabama A&M showed up at the SWAC Baseball Tournament for the first time in 9 years Thursday and did everything it could to make life miserable for the top-seeded and host Southern Jaguars. The Bulldogs scored twice in the top of the first and held on to at least a share of the lead until a five-run bottom of the seventh allowed the Jags to escape the upset 8-3.

Grant Mattix (3-4) pitched a gem keeping the high-powered Southern offense off balance for the great portion of the game. Mattix threw a complete game giving up 7 runs, 6 earned with 6 walks and 7 strikeouts.

"I cannot be prouder of this team for the effort they gave tonight," head coach Jay Martin said. "Our kids are disappointed in the loss, but we have a chance to bounce right back tomorrow against Jackson State.  We battled, and you have to give Southern credit. They got the hits when they needed them."

The Bulldogs opened the scoring in the first when Alton Ellison tripled to drive in a run over the first base bag and then scored on a fielding error on the same play.  Mattix wiggled out of trouble in the bottom half of the first to give up just one run, and the Bulldogs added to the lead with a single run in the third.

Fabian Harper singled to open the third.  He and LaDale Hayes executed a perfect hit and run when Hayes singled past a covering second baseman.  Hayes stole second, and Harper scored on a catcher's throwing error trying to gun down Hayes.

Alabama A&M held on to that lead until the bottom of the sixth when SU led off the inning with a home run to tie the game after pushing across a single run in the fifth.

The seventh was the deciding inning.  Gregory Whitfield's three-run homer was the big blow in the five-run capper.

Alabama A&M will face Jackson State on Thursday at noon in an elimination game.