Box Score

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The University of West Alabama baseball team battled back in the season opener to defeat Auburn Montgomery 4-3 at the AUM Baseball Complex on Tuesday evening.

Trailing 3-1 through five innings, Brian Simone scored on a Bryan Mason single to tie the game at 3-all, in the top of the sixth. Simone setup the tie two batters earlier with a single to right field that scored Deon Williams. Williams reached base on a one out walk and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Colin McKeen put the Red and White in front on a single up the middle that scored Sam McCormack in the seventh inning.

Josh Varner picked up the win as he pitched two innings in relief of UWA starter Moses Munoz. Varner allowed two hits and no runs with a pair of strikeouts in his first appearance of 2010. Munoz tossed five innings in his first start for UWA, allowing three runs on five hits with four walks and a strikeout. Brian Burgess logged his 17th career save with one inning on the bump while recording a strikeout. Jason Howell also tossed in relief with one inning of work, surrendering two hits.

AUM (2-3) plated the first two runs of the contest, posting a run in the first and second innings. UWA nipped the lead to 2-1 in the fourth as Kevin Deese scored on a sacrifice fly by Dallas Rogers. Deese led off the inning with a double to left field and advanced to third on a fielder's choice. The Senators pushed the margin back out to two runs in the fifth on a Sam Judah single up the middle that scored Justin Williams.

Tanner Gordon, one of five pitchers to take the mound for AUM, was saddled with the loss with 2/3 of an inning of the mound, allowing one run on one hit with a walk.

West Alabama returns to action on Friday, Feb. 5 as the Tigers welcome Columbus State to Tartt Field for a three-game, weekend series. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.