Game 1 Box/Game 2 Box

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The University of West Alabama baseball team won for the fourth consecutive time, sweeping Arkansas Tech, 12-4 and 9-5 in eight innings Sunday afternoon at Tech Field.

The Tigers took the opening game 12-4, scoring 12 runs on 11 hits. Behind the arms of three pitchers, West Alabama (10-5) plated four runs in the top of the eighth inning to get the win.

In the first game, Arkansas Tech (4-11-1) scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning, but West Alabama responded with two runs in the second and two in the third to grab a 4-3 lead.

James Guilliams, who was 2-for-3, led off the second inning with a double to right-center and advanced to third on a wild pitch. With one out, Clint Moody, who went 1-for-5 with three RBIs, reached on an error by Wonder Boys shortstop Tony Sanchez, scoring Guilliams from third. With two outs, Moody stole second and scored on a Brent Bumgarner RBI single up the middle.

In the third inning, Clark Humber, who was 1-for-4, walked to begin the inning and advanced to second on a passed ball. Rob Dahlberg hit a sacrifice fly to center, moving Humber to third. Jake DeRoy followed with a bunt single, scoring Humber. After DeRoy was picked off while trying to steal second, Guilliams walked and Chris Gilbertsen, who was 1-for-4, doubled to right-center, scoring the fourth Tiger run.

West Alabama took the lead in the fifth with a run on two hits. Humber led off the inning with a bunt single and took second on a wild pitch. With one out, DeRoy, who was 2-for-5, laced a single to center, plating Humber to give West Alabama a 5-3 lead.

The Wonder Boys pulled to within a run in the sixth inning, but the Tigers put the game away by exploding for seven runs on four hits in the ninth inning.

With one out in the ninth, Bumgarner singled to left and advanced to second on a balk. Darryl Brown was intentionally walked and with two outs, Dahlberg walked to load the bases. DeRoy reached on an error by Arkansas Tech third baseman Jantzen Black, allowing Bumgarner to score from third. Guilliams followed with a double to left, scoring all three runners on base. Gilbertsen walked and Moody smacked a triple to right field scoring two more runs. Moody crossed the plate when Todd Rea, who went 1-for-2, singled up the middle for the final Tiger run.

Noel Baca (2-2) pitched seven innings, giving up four runs on seven hits with 10 strikeouts in getting the win. Stephen Barnett worked two innings of relief. He surrendered a pair of hits.

John Iverson took the loss for Arkansas Tech. He pitched 4 1/3 innings, surrendering five runs on seven hits.

In the second game, Brandon Wheeler started on the mound, pitching 3.1 innings. He gave up four runs on six hits with a strikeout. R.J. Miller pitched three innings, surrendering a run on four hits with a pair of strikeouts. Brandon Dill (3-0) picked up the win after pitching 1 2/3 innings.

With the Tigers leading 5-4, the Wonder Boys tied the game in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings.

West Alabama scored four runs on three hits in the eighth inning to blow the game wide open.

With one out in the eighth inning, DeRoy, who was 1-for-2, singled to center and advanced to second when Bumgarner was hit by a pitch. Humber, who was 1-for-3 singled to the shortstop to load the bases. Brown was hit by a pitch to bring DeRoy in from third. Rea, who was 2-for-3, walked. Bumgarner scored on the Rea walk. After Dahlberg reached on a fielder’s choice, Guilliams, who was 2-for-3, knocked a base hit up the middle, which scored Brown and Rea for the final runs of the inning.

Zach Weiss took the loss for the Wonder Boys. He gave up five runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings.

West Alabama returns to action 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 28 as Stillman College visits Tartt Field.