LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Eddie Kieffer had four hits, including three doubles, and Luigi Mendez blasted a three-run home run as West Alabama and Lee University split a Gulf South Conference doubleheader Saturday at Tartt Field. UWA won the first game, 3-2, and Lee took the second game, 12-6.
 
The split leaves West Alabama 11-8 overall and 5-5 in conference play. Lee is 12-5-1 and 4-5-1. The Tigers and Flames are scheduled to finish the three-game series with a single game Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Mendez provided all of West Alabama's scoring in the second inning of the opener with his first career home run, driving in Kieffer and Rainey, who had singled and walked, respectively.
 
Trenton Hill drove in both of Lee's runs in the eighth inning of the first game with a two-out single to centerfield.
 
UWA starter Jorge Cruz (3-2) worked 7.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out five, to pick up the win in the opener. Tiger closer Tanner Rainey got the final four outs for his fifth save. Lee starter Dustin Lawson (1-1) was tagged with the loss.
 
West Alabama led 4-1 in the nightcap before the wheels came off the in late innings. Lee scored 11 runs in the final three innings, using seven hits, a Tiger error, a hit batter and six walks from UWA pitchers. All 12 Lee hits in the second game were singles.
 
Reliever Ridge Ackerman (3-0) picked up the win in the second game for the Flames. UWA relief man Brandon Pennington (2-1) absorbed the loss despite not allowing an earned run.
 
Kieffer doubled once in the opener and twice in the nightcap to lead the West Alabama offense. Mitch Holgate had three hits on the day for UWA, while Nick Delgado, Jack Cockrum and Daniel Bolte had two hits each in the nightcap.
 
Andres Nelo had four hits for the Flames in the doubleheader. Ben Holland had three hits and drive in three runs in the second game. M.J. Brown had a pair of hits and three RBI in the second game for Lee. Travis Perkola had two hits for the Flames.