Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Five West Alabama batters recorded multiple hit games as the Tigers defeated Christian Brothers, 8-6, in Gulf South Conference baseball action Saturday at Nadickbernd Field.
 
Jack Cockrum had four hits and Mitch Holgate three as the Tigers won for the third straight time and improved to 19-9 overall and 8-7 in GSC play. Christian Brothers dropped to 7-22 and 1-15.
 
Holgate got the Tigers off on the right foot by leading off the game with his fifth home run of the year, a solo shot over the 17-foot wall in center field. Hits by Tyler Richburg, Tanner Rainey and Jack Cockrum added to a pair of throwing errors by the Bucs led to a four-run first for UWA.
 
"We jumped out really well in the first inning with some good at bats and by taking advantage of a couple of their mistakes," UWA head coach Gary Rundles said. "But it's like I told our kids after the game, you can never take anything in baseball for granted.
 
"I thought our offense relaxed some after the big first inning and went into coast mode," Rundles said. "We learned that you have to continue to take care of business every inning and at every at bat."
 
Single runs in the first and third, followed by a four-run outburst in the fifth, gave Christian Brothers a 6-4 lead.
 
West Alabama tied the game at 6-6 in the top of the seventh inning when Adam Chamblee singled, Cockrum doubled and Trey Williamon was hit by a pitch to open the frame. A passed ball and a sacrifice fly to right field by Daniel Bolte brought the Tigers even.
 
Cockrum singled in Rainey in the eighth and Jocobby Robinson's safety squeeze plated Williamon, who had reached by being hit by pitch second time, for an insurance run in the ninth.
 
"Any time you get a win in a GSC game, especially on the road, it's a good thing," Rundles said. "I thought Caleb Derouen may have pitched the best he has pitched all year. He did an outstanding job."
 
Derouen (1-0), a freshman from Thomasville, Ala., earned his first collegiate pitching win in relief of UWA starter Zach Parks. Tanner Rainey worked the ninth for his fifth save. Christian Brothers starter Jake Garbuzinski (1-6) absorbed the loss.
 
Richburg, Rainey and Chamblee had two hits apiece in a 15-hit Tiger attack.
 
Tyler Bennett, Mac Cooley, Justin Neal and Josh Ambuehl contributed two hits each for Christian Brothers. Burnett reached base five times in the game and Neal had a pair of doubles.
 
The Tigers and Bucs finish the three-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at noon.
The doubleheader will be broadcast locally on ESPN 104.9 and globally on www.espn1049.com. Hunter Gibson will have the call. Tiger fans can also follow live stats at http://www.sidearmstats.com/cbu/baseball/.