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LIVINGSTON, Ala. –
The fifth-ranked University of West Alabama baseball
team claimed the series against Georgia Southwestern, as
the Tigers (6-1) trounced the Hurricanes 18-7 in the
fourth game of the series.
GSWU (1-6) plated the
first three runs of the contest in the first inning. The
Red and White narrowed the lead to 3-2, scoring runs in
the second and third. UWA took the lead in the fifth
inning with two runs crossing the dish.
Following a ground out
by Todd Rea, Tres Avans and Matt Busbee each drew walks.
Nick Wheeler reached by way of an error and moved up to
second base, as Busbee moved to third and Avans scored
to knot the contest. Kevin Deese was intentionally
walked to load the bases. Clint Moody then singled to
right field to score Busbee and give UWA a 4-3 lead.
The Tigers erupted
with nine runs in the sixth inning. Rob Dahlberg led the
inning off with a home run to left field. Rea followed
with a triple and then scored on a throwing error by the
shortstop. Busbee would draw a one out walk, one batter
later. Nick Wheeler moved Busbee up to second on a
single through the left side. Deese then singled to
right field, scoring Busbee. Moody then doubled down the
left field line to plate Wheeler. Jody Morgan singled
through the left side to score Moody and Deese. Dahlberg
returned to the dish for the second time in the inning
and singled through the right side to score Morgan. A
wild pitch saw Dahlberg move up to second and Dallas
Rogers score. With two outs, Brian Simone singled and
then advanced to second on a throwing error, as Dahlberg
scored to close out the inning.
The Hurricanes added
two in the seventh inning, but UWA answered with five of
its own in the inning to extend the lead to 18-5.
Wheeler, who led the
inning off with a single down the right field line,
scored on a one out Phillip Merryman dinger to left
field. Clint Brown followed with a single to center
field and one batter later, scored on a Brent Bonner
homer to right field. The final Tigers run came as Kyle
Moore scored on an error by the first baseman.
The final runs came in
the top of the ninth on a two run homer by Zack Stanton,
scoring Martin.
Matt Hill received his
first win of the season, throwing six innings, allowing
three runs on six hits. Clint Smith and Cole Thornton
each saw action for the Red and White with Smith
totaling one inning and Thornton pitching the final two
innings.
GSWU starter Austin
Smith got the loss with four and a third innings, with
four runs allowed on six hits.
West Alabama returns
to action on Wednesday, February 13, as the Tigers
travel to Hattiesburg, Miss. for a doubleheader with
William Carey. First pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. |
