BOCA RATON, Fla. – The University of West Alabama baseball team split a doubleheader with Lynn University on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers (7-3) claimed game one 5-4 before falling 4-3 in the last game of the twinbill.
In the second game, LU posted three runs in the bottom of the seventh to claim the victory. Chris Chavez crossed the dish to give the Fighting Knights their first win in the series. Chavez scored the first run of the inning with a single to right field that plated Einar Atencio. With the bases loaded, Matt Noble was hit by a pitch to push Chris Koppenhauer across the dish to tie the game at 3-3.
Brian Burgess (0-1) allowed three runs on two hits in the final frame with a strikeout and walk.
Dallas Rogers doubled to right center to break open a 1-all tie, scoring Bryan Mason, in the top of the seventh. Rogers scored on the play as Johnny Broderick commented a throwing error.
LU took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning as Richie McVay hit a leadoff homerun to right field. The Fighting Knights held the lead until the top of the sixth when Brian Simone cranked a round tripper over the right field wall to tie the game at 1-all.
In game one, a Kevin Deese homerun to right field in the fifth inning put the Red and White up 4-1. The homer was the second hit of the day for the Fosters Ala.-junior. His first hit of the outing came in the first inning that plated Lige Mitchell as the first run of the game. Colin McKeen scored the second run of the inning as he logged a base hit to left field to score Simone. Mitchell scored in the sixth inning on a fielding error by LU left fielder Dane Derstine.
Colter Millican (1-0) pitched five innings in the win. The Brighton, Tenn.-native scattered two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts with five walks. Brian Burgess (3) became the school's all-time saves leader with his 19th career save. The Huntsville, Ala.-junior pitched the final inning allowing a hit and recording two strikeouts.
West Alabama returns to action on Sunday, Feb. 21 as UWA and Lynn complete their four game weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. CST. The game will be available via live stats and live audio at www.uwaathletics.com.
