LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama baseball team split the opening doubleheader of its Gulf South Conference series with Alabama in Huntsville on Saturday at Tartt Field as each team secured its victory in its last at bat. UWA now owns a 15-9 (2-2 GSC) mark while the Chargers move to 19-11 (4-3 GSC).
The Tigers won the opening game 6-5 after scoring four runs in the final three innings, while the Chargers took game two 1-0 in extra innings.
Ladarrius Cole scored the winning run in the ninth of the day's first game after he singled with one out in the frame. He moved into scoring position by remaining perfect on the season in stolen base attempts, picking up his second of the night and 13th overall. Brian Simone then drove him in with a double to produce UWA's fourth walk-off of the season.
Brian Burgess (3-1) set a career high for wins in a season as the closer pitched the top half of the ninth to earn his third win. David Kendrick (2-1) picked up the loss for the visitors.
The Chargers had led throughout the affair as they scored twice in the opening inning and tacked on an additional run in the third.
Putting UWA on the board for the first time, Kevin Deese drove in Cole and Jay Jennings with a single to right, but the guests tacked on a run in the fourth and the fifth to pull back ahead by three at 5-2.
The Tigers were held off the board until the seventh when they crossed the plate three times. All the runs scored with two outs as Simone drove in the first pair – Cole and Joseph Reed – on his first of two doubles in the game. Colin McKeen then tied the game with a base hit to left that scored Simone.
The nightcap was a pitcher's duel as Ryan Griffin (4-0) went the distance for UAH, not giving up a hit until the seventh when McKeen singled with one out gone in the inning.
Jeb Huber was strong as well, tossing eight frames in the game that was slated to go seven innings. The Ponchatoula, La., native struck out eight Chargers to set a new season high for UWA pitchers, and he allowed just three hits.
Taylor Bratton (1-2) picked up the tough-luck loss in pitching the ninth, surrendering two hits and the winning run.
The two teams will meet on Sunday with the rubber match scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
