LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The West Alabama baseball team saw its best hitting of the season, racking up 12 hits against Columbus State. Unfortunately, the Tigers' defense did not hold up against the Cougars, and UWA fell 10-6 Sunday afternoon.
Columbus State (3-0) completed the sweep of West Alabama as the Tigers fell to 0-4 on the season.
SCORING
T2/ The Cougars opened up the scoring for the competition in the top of the second. Columbus State's designated hitter, Will Willbanks, led off with a single up the middle. He advanced to second on a ground out and then made it home on a two-run homer by right-fielder Derek Wyle. The Cougars closed the frame with a 2-0 advantage.
T3/ CSU continued scoring in the third inning. Robert Brooks hit a home run for the Cougars, adding one run to the total. Steven Minters followed Brooks with a single through the left side and then scored on a single from Matthew McDade. Columbus State led UWA, 4-0.
B3/ West Alabama saw its first runs in the bottom of the third. Jacobey Hawthorne singled through the left side to make it to first. A pitch then hit Jake Nemith to put Tiger runners on first and second. Colden Peeples grounded out to the third base but advanced Hawthorne and Nemith. Gavin Rogers collected UWA's first RBI on a sacrifice fly to score Hawthorne.
Josh Bower recorded UWA's second RBI, singling up the middle to bring Nemith home. The Tigers trailed the Cougars, 4-2.
B4/ West Alabama took its first lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Brayden Lyman got the action going with a single to second base. Connor Christian followed with a single to the left side to advance Lyman. Hawthorne saw his second hit of the competition, singling up the middle for the RBI.
Nemith cleared the bases with his first home run of the season for three RBIs. West Alabama took the lead 6-4.
T5/ The Cougars cut into the Tigers lead in the next frame. Three Cougar batters had singles in the inning, with the last hit scoring a runner. Connor Kirley singled through the right side with two runners on base to send Derek Wylie home. Columbus State trailed West Alabama 6-5.
T6/ The Cougars tied the game at six on a single. Wilbanks reached base and advanced to second on an error by the left fielder. Wilbanks then scored the sixth run for Columbus State on a single by Colby Brabston.
T7/ CSU took the win in the seventh inning with four runs on two hits and two Tiger errors. David Meadows singled to first base for 2 RBI. He then scored on an error by the UWA catcher. Columbus State's fourth run of the inning came on a wild pitch, putting the final score at 10-6.
AT THE PLATE
Eight Tigers in the West Alabama lineup left Sunday's outing with at least one hit under their belt. Josh Bower led the team with three hits (one double) on five plate appearances for one RBI.
Jake Nemith hit the Tigers' first home run of the season to record three RBIs. He also scored two of UWA's six runs.
Other Tiger standouts include Colden Peeples and Jacobey Hawthorne, who had two hits each.
Derek Wylie led the Columbus State offense. The sophomore right fielder had two hits (one home run), two runs, and two RBIs.
ON THE MOUND
Gates Pee (0-1) took the loss on the mound for West Alabama. The right-hander from Clinton, Miss., entered the game in the sixth to pitch 1.1 innings. Pee faced 10 batters in the outing for two strikeouts, one walk, five runs (one earned), and three hits against.
Chandler Ring (1-0) was credited with the pitching victory. The Warner Robin, Ga. native, pitched 3.2 innings to face 14 batters for one walk, one strikeout, and two hits.
UP NEXT
The West Alabama baseball team will play its first road game, traveling to Monticello, Ark., on Tuesday, Feb. 8. The Tigers will have a rematch against Arkansas – Monticello in one 9-inning game. The first pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Weevils Field.
