Live Blog: Alabama Baseball vs. Southern Miss (Hattiesburg Regional Game 3)

HATTIESBURG, Miss.— Alabama baseball is back at Pete Taylor Park for its second game in the NCAA Regional looking to stave off elimination after dropping game one to the Miami Hurricanes 5-3.

Regional host Southern Miss was also upset on Friday, losing to Columbia 11-4 to be relegated to Saturday's elimination game.

Alabama is looking to snap a five-game NCAA tournament losing streak and turns to Tyler Fay on the mound. Fay gave the Crimson Tide six innings of action at the SEC Tournament last week against Missouri. He allowed the Tigers one run off five hits while striking out five batters 11 days ago.

Southern Miss will utilize its ace on the mound in JB Middleton. Middleton is a Golden Spikes semi-finalist and won the 2025 Ferriss Trophy, given to the best college baseball player in the state of Mississippi. He gave the Golden Eagles seven innings of action against Texas State in the Sun Belt tournament, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out 10 batters 10 days ago.

Starting Lineups

Alabama Starters	Southern Miss Starters
1. Bryce Fowler - Right Field	1. Jake Cook - Centerfield
2. Justin Lebron - Shortstop	2. Ozzie Pratt - Shortstop
3. Kade Snell - Left Field	3. Nick Monistere - Second Base
4. Richie Bonomolo Jr. - Centerfield	4. Matthew Russo - First Base
5. Will Hodo - First Base	5. Joey Urban - DH
6. Jason Torres - Third Base	6. Ben Higdon - Left Field
7. Brennen Norton - Second Base	7. Drey Barrett - Third Base
8. Will Plattner - DH	8. Carson Paetow - Right Field
9. Brady Neal - Catcher	9. Tucker Stockman - Catcher

Starting Pitchers:

Southern Miss - JB Middleton (10-1) 98.1 IP, 2.01 ERA, 114 strikeouts, 24 BB
Alabama - Tyler Fay (1-2) 49.2 IP, 4.71 ERA, 41 strikeouts, 11 BB

Live Updates

Be sure to refresh your browser for live updates from Alabama baseball vs. Miami (Fla.) in the opening game at the Hattiesburg Regional. The most recent updates will appear at the top.

Final Score: Southern Miss 6, Alabama 5

Top 9 - Alabama Batting

Bonomolo Jr. grounds out to third unassisted and Alabama's season is over.

Kade Snell draws a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Every base is live for Southern Miss as they need just one out to win the game. The Crimson Tide sends Richie Bonomolo Jr. to the plate looking for a hit to tie or take the lead.

Justin Lebron strikes out for the third time on the day. Alabama is down to its final out and Kade Snell steps to the plate. Snell's hit was caught at the warning track yesterday ending the game. The baseball gods put him back into a high tension situation.

Bryce Fowler pokes a single through the infield, putting Crimson Tide runners on first and second. Justin Lebron steps into the batter's box next.

Brady Neal draws a walk and Alabama still has life. The Crimson Tide brings Bryce Fowler to the plate with one away in the inning. Fowler's already hit a big home run today. He looks for another key hit to keep the season alive.

Plattner grounds out to the shortstop, swinging at the first pitch he sees.

The Crimson Tide's season is down to the final three outs. Alabama needs one run to extend things further and brings the bottom of the order to the plate. Southern Miss taps Colby Allen to come in and close the game.

Bottom 8 - Southern Miss Batting

The inning finally comes to a conclusion as Jake Cook flies out to center field. The damage is done for the Golden Eagles as they scored three runs on two hits with three free passes.

Tucker Stockman finds a huge single into right centerfield. Stockman's hit brings two Golden Eagles home and Southern Miss takes a 6-5 lead.

Alabama intentionally walks Caron Paetow to load the bases. All the bases are live as Alabama needs one more out and is protecting a one-run lead.

Braden Luke grounds out to the second baseman but advances runners to second and third. Everyone is on their feet in Hattiesburg as the tensions mount.

Southern Miss tries to bunt the runners over with Ben Higdon, but Alabama makes a great play getting the lead runner at third. The Eagles still have men on first and second with one away in the inning. Southern Miss gives Braden Luke a pinch-hit opportunity next.

Ozmer walks Joey Urban on five pitches, putting Golden Eagles on first and second with no outs in the inning. Alabama pitching coach Jason Jackson comes to the mound to check in with Ozmer as Ben Higdon steps into the batter's box.

Ozmer hits Matthew Russo in the quadricep to put him on first base with no outs in the inning. Joey Urban steps to the plate as Southern Miss's go-ahead run.

Alabama pulls Braylon Myers and turns to its closer Carson Ozmer. Ozmer is looking for six-out save to keep the season alive.

Myers finishes with one inning of work, allowing one run off one hit. He walked one and struck out one as well.

Nick Monistere hits his second home run of the game to lead off the inning. Monistere's 367-foot home run smashed off the left field signage and cuts Alabama's lead to one run. Alabama 5-4.

Top 8 - Alabama Batting

Jason Torres works the count full but strikes out for the first out in the inning. Brennen Norton then grounds into a double-play as Southern Miss avoids any damage. Alabama still leads 5-3 and needs six outs to keep its season alive.

Alabama seems to be building momentum. Richie Bonomolo Jr. reaches safely with a double after the Southern Miss centerfielder can't come up with a diving catch. Southern Miss opts to walk Will Hodo, putting runners on first and second with no outs. The small Alabama contengent of fan's are chanting "ALA" "BAMA" as Jason Torres comes to the plate.

Colby Allen enters the game for Middleton. Middleton allows five runs and seven hits over seven innings with eight strikeouts.

Bottom 7 - Southern Miss Batting

Brayon Myers walked Jake Cook to extend the inning but bounced back forcing Ozzie Pratt to ground out to end the inning.

Braylon Myers fans the first batter he sees, setting Carson Paetow in eight pitches. Tucker Stockman hit a ball to the outfield wall but Bryce Fowler is there for the second out of the frame.

Alabama brings in Braylon Myers to relieve Tyler Fay. Fay ties a career high, pitching six innings, allowing three runs on six hits, striking out three and walking one. The sophomore did exactly what he needed to eating up innings and keeping the Golden Eagles in check.

Top 7 - Alabama Batting

Kade Snell strikes out to end the inning. It's been feast or famine for the Alabama batters. The Crimson Tide has seen eight batters fanned, but has launched three home runs to stay just ahead of the Golden Eagles.

Justin Lebron has his first productive at bat of the after striking out twice and popping out. Lebron's hit in the infield is stopped by a diving shortstop but Southern Miss opts not to throw to first, allowing the single.

Bryce Fowler makes JB Middleton pay for giving up his two out hit to Neal. Fowler launches a 406-foot two-run, two-out home run to give the Crimson Tide the lead again. Alabama's scored each run off the long ball and now leads 5-3.

Brennen Norton, Will Plattner fly out to open the inning, but Brady Neal keeps the frame going by finding a sharply hit single into right field.

Bottom 6 - Southern Miss Batting

Richie Bonomolo Jr. covers a lot of ground in centerfield to secure the third out of the inning. Tyler Fay's day could be over as Braylon Myers continues to warm up in the bullpen.

Fay gives up his first walk of the game, putting Ben Higdon on first base with two outs.

Joey Urban give a fly ball a ride, but Richie Bonomolo Jr. makes the catch just short of the centerfield warning track. Fay's worked two quick outs and is looking for a third to get the offense back in the batters box quickly.

Tyler Fay continues to work well, forcing a fly out by Matthew Russo to open the inning. He's been in control of the game outside of two swings.

Top 6 - Alabama Batting

Jason Torres works into a full count but gets underneath the baseball and flies out to right field. Alabama strands all three runners and the score remains tied 3-3. The Crimson Tide squanders runners on the corners with one out and ultimately comes away with nothing.

Will Hodo gets hit and Alabama now has the bases loaded with two outs in the inning. Jason Torres could break the game wide open with a big hit.

Richie Bonomolo Jr. gets underneath a JB Middleton pitch and flies out to the shortstop. The fly ball isn't deep enough to score Fowler.

Kade Snell pokes a single through the second base side of the infield and Fowler is able to advance to third. Fowler was moving on contact and gives the Crimson Tide runners on the corners with one out. Richie Bonomolo Jr. can break the tie with a productive at bat.

Justin Lebron's third at bat of the game isn't a strikeout, but it's an unproductive out. Lebron flies out to the first baseman, leaving Fowler on first with one out in the frame.

Alabama opens the sixth with the top of the order, looking to break a 3-3 tie. Bryce Fowler snaps on the second pitch he sees for a single back through the middle of the infield.

Bottom 5 - Southern Miss Batting

Tyler Fay bounces back after giving up a home run to Nick Monistere in the third inning, by forcing him to ground out to Norton to end the inning.

Jake Pratt grounds out to open the inning. Fay has forced seven ground ball outs this afternoon. Fay strikes out Ozzie Pratt, fanning his third batter of the day for the second out of the inning.

Top 5 - Alabama Batting

Brennen Norton lines out to center to open the inning for Alabama, Will Plattner and Brady Neal both strike out swinging for 1,2,3 inning for JB Middleton. Middleton's up to seven strikeouts on the afternoon and has limited Alabama to two hits. The hits, however, were monstrous, keeping the game tied at three.

Bottom 4 - Southern Miss Batting

Drey Barrett and Carson Paetow follow up the home run with two ground ball outs. Tucker Stockman flies out to left to end the inning. Tyler Fay continues to keep the ball low, but the two Southern Miss home runs loom large as mistakes.

It's a home run party in Hattiesburg. Ben Higdon smokes a solo home run 402 feet to straightaway centerfield to tie the game 3-3. All the runs for both teams thusf ar have come off the long ball.

Top 4 - Alabama Batting

It's been feast or famine for JB Middleton. He's given up two home runs, but struck out five Alabama batters through four innings. The Crimson Tide clings to a 3-2 lead as they face elimination.

Alabama's Will Hodo gives the Crimson Tide the lead back with a 348 foot two-run blast over the left field wall. Hodo's 15th home run of the year hits off the outfield signage and gives Alabama a 3-2 lead.

JB Middleton gets his fourth strikeout of the day, setting down Bonomolo Jr. in three pitches.

Kade Snell becomes technically Alabama's first baserunner of the day after drawing a walk. Will Plattner hit a home run in the third inning and got to bypass all the stations for Alabama's first run. Snell is now on first with one out, bringing Richie Bonomolo Jr. to the plate.

Alabama's Justin Lebron strikes out for the second time this game. He struck out on three pitches in the first inning and on four pitches in the fourth inning.

Bottom 3 - Southern Miss Batting

Fay gets out of the inning and strands Russo on first striking out Joey Urban swinging. The Golden Eagles got two runs on three hits in the inning and took a one-run lead.

Alabama's Braylon Myers leaves the dugout and begins stretching in the bullpen.

Matthew Russo singles up the middle as the Golden Eagles have hit three two-out hits in a row. Jason Jackson heads to the mound to give Tyler Fay a chance to regroup himself as Alabama looks for the final out in the inning.

Nick Monistere makes Fay pay for allowing the two-out hit. Monistere takes Fay 374 feet over the right-centerfield wall for a two-run home fun. Bryce Fowler gave a leap at it, but couldn't come down with the ball and Southern Miss takes a 2-1 lead.

Ozzie Pratt finds a two-out single through the second base side of the infield for the third Golden Eagles hit of the day.

Tyler Fay gets his first strikeout of the day, fanning Tucker Stockman after working into a full count. Stockman fouled a few balls off but ends up walking back to the dugout emptyhanded.

Top 3 - Alabama Batting

Bryce Fowler grounds out to end the inning but Alabama holds a 1-0 lead after Platner's moon shot over the wall. Platner is DHing in place of Garrett Staton and Coleman Mizell. The decision yields early benefits for the Crimson Tide.

JB Middleton's thrown four pitches in the inning as Alabama continues to swing early. The Crimson Tide's musterd a home runs and two line outs.

Will Platner hits his first home run of the season. The bomb went 389 feet over the left centerfield wall. Alabama takes a 1-0 lead.

Brennen Norton grounds out to open the next inning. It's another early count swing resulting in an out.

Bottom 2 - Southern Miss Batting

The error doesn't bite Alabama as Ben Higdon flies out to right field for the last out. Southern Miss notches two hits, but strands both runners and leaves the score tied at zero.

Drey Barrett drops a line drive in front of the left fielder for a single. Urban advanced to second on the hit, but all the way to third as left fielder Kade Snell struggled to corral the ball in the outfield and is charged an error.

Joey Urban extends his hitting streak to 13 games, poking a ground ball through the middle of the infield past a diving Justin Lebron for the Golden Eagles first baserunner of the game.

Tyler Fay, second on Alabama's baseball staff in forcing ground balls, forces Matthew Russo into a ground ball out to open the second inning.

Top 2 - Alabama Batting

Alabama goes down in order as JB Middleton gets his second strikeout of the afternoon. Middleton froze Will Hodo at the plate and forced Richie Bonomolo Jr. and Jason Torres to fly out. The Crimson Tide is still looking for its first baserunner after two frames.

Bottom 1 - Southern Miss Batting

Tyler Fay works a fast inning for Alabama from the mound. Fay forces a pop-out and two groundouts. It was a seven-pitch first inning for the sophomore.

Top 1 - Alabama Batting

Left fielder Kade Snell gives a ball a ride but right fielder Carson Paetow makes a catch at the wall for the third out. Snell nearly had Alabama's walk off home run yesterday against Miami and is robbed again of a solo home run in the first.

Justin Lebron strikes out in three pitches, looking and missing twice. Middleton has two outs on five pitches.

Fowler grounds out to the second baseman on the second pitch he sees. Alabama's approach at the plate was a bit cavalier. The Crimson Tide needs to make JB Middleton work harder than Miami's AJ Ciscar.

2:06 first pitch is a ball to Bryce Fowler and we're underway here in Hattiesburg.

Pregame:

1:43 p.m. - Alabama's taking infield as both programs continue warmups. The scoreboard shows a 2:06 p.m. first pitch time.

1:33 p.m. - Southern Miss is wearing yellow tops and white pants with black hats and yellow trim. Alabama is decked out in its matching gray tops and bottoms with its cameo hat with a script "A".

Weather Report: Afternoon temperatures are in the low 80s in Hattiesburg and skies are partly cloudy, but there is no rain in the forecast. Winds up to seven miles per hour with 40 percent humidity sets the scenes for Saturday baseball.