South Alabama baseball stays alive in Sun Belt tournament with victory over Georgia State

South Alabama snapped a five-year drought in the Sun Belt Conference baseball tournament on Thursday night, battling past Georgia State in a gritty 7-4 victory at Dabos Park in Montgomery.

A Decisive Swing

The Jaguars (34-22) appeared to be in complete control with a 4-0 lead until the eighth inning, when Georgia State (26-30) surged back to tie the game. With the momentum shifting, Blake Guerin delivered a massive three-run homer—his 16th of the season—to regain the lead for good. The senior first baseman, who had struggled to a 1-for-9 start in the tournament, credited the coaching staff for maintaining his confidence throughout his slump.

"It’s all the coaches, going into the dugout and getting a pat on your butt instead of them ripping you," Guerin said. "It gives you the confidence throughout the whole entire game."

Rising to the Challenge

South Alabama coach Mark Calvi praised his team's work ethic and mental toughness following the win. "I knew this group wouldn’t come back with a hangover at all," Calvi said, referencing the earlier 11-3 tournament-opening loss to Troy. "That was a culture win right there."

Starting pitcher Mitchell Heer was brilliant for the Jaguars, tossing seven innings of one-run ball while racking up eight strikeouts without allowing a walk. Reliever Zach Stephens eventually closed the door in the ninth, despite a rocky eighth inning where a defensive miscue allowed the Panthers to draw even.

Looking Ahead

The win marks South Alabama's first Sun Belt tournament success since their 2021 title run. The Jaguars now await their next opponent. They will face the loser of Friday's matchup between No. 4 seed Troy and No. 1 seed Southern Miss. That pivotal elimination game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Friday night.