2025 NCAA Baseball Tournament: Southern Miss uses 3-run 8th inning to come back, stun Alabama

Needing just a few more outs, Alabama looked to stay alive in the 2025 NCAA Baseball Tournament against No. 1 seed Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles broke out in the eighth inning though, completing a wild comeback to stun the Crimson Tide.

Nick Monistere started things off with a solo home run to make it a 5-4 Alabama lead, and the Tide opted to intentionally walk Carson Paetow to set up a double play with runners on first and third. That’s when Tucker Stockman stepped to the plate and delivered the eventual game-winning hit with a two-run single, putting Southern Miss on top 6-5.

That stood as the final. Alabama couldn’t push a run across in the top of the ninth, meaning the Golden Eagles avoided elimination and are still alive in the Hattiesburg Regional.

PETE TAYLOR MAGIC 🔥🔥🔥

Southern Miss storms back to take the lead and beat Alabama. Tide have been eliminated
pic.twitter.com/CCgNvclTUe

— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) May 31, 2025

Alabama struck first in Saturday’s game when Will Plattner launched a solo home run in the third inning. Southern Miss answered right away, though, as Monistere launched his first homer of the game – a two-run blast to put the Golden Eagles ahead, 2-1.

That lead was short-lived, though. Will Hodo sent a two-run shot to left field, which put Alabama back on top, 3-2. Southern Miss again countered with a home run of its own as Ben Higdon tied things up at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth.

It was all tied up until the seventh inning when Bryce Fowler gave Alabama a late lead with another home run, this time a two-run shot to center field to put the Crimson Tide on top 5-3. Monistere then cut the deficit to one run with his second homer of the day, and Stockman’s two-run single was the eventual game-winner as Southern Miss jumped back out in front, 6-5.

Brady Neal worked a one-out walk for Alabama in the top of the seventh and Fowler singled, putting runners on first and second. After Justin Lebron struck out, Kade Snell walked, bringing Richie Bonomolo Jr. to the plate to try and be the hero. However, he grounded into a fielder’s choice, which sealed Southern Miss’ victory and kept the Golden Eagles alive.

Southern Miss will now advance in the elimination bracket and get ready to play in the first game Sunday in Hattiesburg. The Golden Eagles will take on the winner of Miami vs. Columbia.