HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Winning its fifth consecutive game, the University of West Alabama baseball team picked up a 2-1 victory on the road at William Carey on Tuesday evening. The victory pushes UWA's record out to 14-8 on the season while the Crusaders drop to 14-11.

The Tiger pitching staff held the hosts at bay through the majority of the contest, only allowing two runners to reach second until WC was able to put a run on the board off of UWA closer Brian Burgess (4) in the final inning.

With the one run already in and runners at first and third, the program's all-time leader in saves received some timely assistance from shortstop Joseph Reed who ranged up the middle to snag a ball that would have scored the tying run, tossing it to Jay Jennings at second for the game's final out.

Neal Lambert (1-0) gave up just one hit in two innings of relief, earning the victory as West Alabama used six pitchers to get through the affair. Jeb Huber threw a pair of no-hit innings while also striking out three, and Taylor Bratton also picked up three strikeouts in his three innings of work.

Colton Henderson and Jesse Boyd teamed up to retire William Carey in the eighth, setting the stage for Burgess in the ninth.

The Tigers scored the first run of the game without knocking the ball out of the infield as Deon Williams led off the second frame easily beating out the throw after hitting it deep in the hole at short. Standing at third after Clint Brown grounded out and Reed singling to short, Williams was able to score when Jennings grounded out to the pitcher.

With Reed at second, Ladarrius Cole shot one through the right side to drive Reed in and put the score at 2-0 in favor of the Tigers.

UWA threatened in the fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth innings as it put a man into scoring position in each frame but ultimately the Red and White was unable to push another across run.

A trio of Tigers finished with a multi-hit day as Cole, Kevin Deese and Reed each recorded a pair of hits. Deese's day included his ninth double of the season.

Both teams finished the day with eight hits.

The Tigers will return to Gulf South Conference play this weekend as they host Alabama in Huntsville for a three-game set starting with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch for the day's first contest is slated for 3 p.m., and all three games can be heard on ESPN 104.9 FM.