VALDOSTA, Ga. – West Alabama pounded out 29 hits on the way to sweeping Valdosta State in a Gulf South Conference baseball doubleheader Saturday at Billy Grant Field. The Tigers won the opener, 15-6, and the second game, 5-2.
The sweep leaves West Alabama at 14-8 overall, 8-5 in GSC play. Valdosta State dropped to 13-9 and 7-6. The Tigers and the Blazers conclude the three-game series with a single game Sunday at noon CDT.
"Our at bats today were as good as we have had all year," UWA head coach
Gary Rundles said. "The key to both games was how the 7-8-9 spots turned the batting order over. Not only did they turn it over, but they produced runs."
The last three spots in the West Alabama batting order produced eight hits, drove in four runs and scored six over the two games. Among that was a three-run home run by
Nick Delgado from the nine-hole in the first game.
Eddie Kieffer got three hits and rive in six runs in a 20-hit performance by UWA in the first game. He had a two-run homer, his second of the season, and a pair of two-run singles. Kieffer doubled in another run in the second game.
"Kieffer had one heck of a day and
Jake Bush had some good swings," Rundles said. "After making some adjustments
Daniel Bolte got some good swings in."
West Alabama starting pitchers
Jorge Cruz (4-2) and
Fernando Gonzalez (4-1) earned the pitching wins, while
Tanner Rainey worked a perfect final inning in game two for his sixth save of the season. Valdosta State starters Mitchell Cody (3-1) and Kyle Andre (3-1) were tagged with the losses.
"Cruz finally settled in and pitched pretty well," Rundles said. "Fernando battled to get us through six innings and then Rainey closed the door in the second game."
Delgado, Kieffer,
Jack Cockrum and
Mitch Holgate all had four hits for West Alabama. Bush, Rainey, Bolte and
Luigi Mendez had three hits each for the Tigers. Among Rainey's three hits were a triple and a double. Mendez and Holgate both doubled.
Michael Gouge, Bryant Hayman and Kevin Cruz each had three hits in the twinbill for Valdosta State. Hayman hit his seventh homer and Gouge his fifth.
