LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama baseball team scored at the right time in game one of a Friday doubleheader against the University of Alabama in Huntsville from Tartt Field, posting all three runs in the bottom of the ninth to steal a 3-2 win. However, the Chargers rallied from an 8-2 deficit in the night cap to pick up a split of the twin bill, 9-8.
There has been a schedule update. Due to the threat of rain,
Saturday's series finale has been pushed up to a 10 a.m. start.
After the day's action, UWA goes to 19-23 and 11-15 in the Gulf South Conference. UAH is 20-22 and 8-18.
Between games, the Tigers celebrated Senior Day by honoring its six seniors:
Jace Dunsford,
Payton Graben,
Roe Ketchum,
Houston Kitterman,
Kyle Vogler and
Jackson Wynn.
GAME 1: West Alabama 3, Alabama Huntsville 2
After the Chargers got one time through the lineup against
Bryant Quimby, Austin Reed launched a solo shot in the third to make it a 1-0 advantage. After a base hit, Quimby settled back in with a called third strike and a groundout.
In the sixth, Merik Carter added a leadoff solo home run to make it a 2-0 lead.
The Tigers had no answer for starter Will Tarpley until the bottom of the ninth. After
Blake Vineyard started the last frame with a full count walk, the Chargers went to the bullpen.
Two batters later, UAH had an opportunity to turn its fourth double play of the game, but an errant throw by Carter put
Chase Dejean, the tying run, at second base.
Following a popout,
Nick Thibodeau loaded the bases on a free pass.
Sam Smith, the winning run, came on for him to pinch run.
Cade Horton followed with another walk to score Vineyard. With the winning run at second base,
Brayden Pelkey came striding up to the plate and laced a single to center to score Dejean and the winning run in Smith.
Bryant Quimby earned the no decision, tossing seven innings and allowing two earned runs on solo homers and matched his UWA best in strikeouts with five.
Gates Pee (2-0) shut down the Chargers in the final two frames.
GAME 2: Alabama Huntsville 9, West Alabama 8
A two-out home run by Brock Butler put the visitors out on the board first, but it did not last long.
With the bases loaded,
Ryan Fletcher started the merry-go-round on a seven-pitch walk to score
Blake Vineyard to even the game at a run each.
Next up,
Cade Horton reached on a throwing error by Hugh Windle that saw two runs score on the play and gave UWA the 3-1 lead.
After allowing a leadoff single in the second,
Maxwell Schumacher retired the next three batters in order. That kept the bats hot for the UWA offense. After a
Will Wood walk to lead off the frame,
Bryce Newman laced a double to center to put runners at second and third.
Vineyard brought one of those runners home on a sacrifice fly, while
Houston Kitterman followed with an RBI two-bagger to swell the lead to 5-1.
Despite a one-out home run by Ramie Harrison in the fourth to make it a 5-2 score in favor of UWA, the Tigres got that run back and then some. After
Chase Dejean doubled to the gap to score Kitterman, who had a four-pitch walk,
Brayden Pelkey smashed a two-run home run to left field for the 8-2 lead.
Schumacher, after allowing the first three runners to reach in the fifth, was relieved, but UAH got to the Tiger bullpen quickly, scoring three runs in the fifth, one run in the sixth and three in the seventh to erase an 8-2 deficit and flip the lead to 9-8.
Down to their last three outs, the Tigers had runners at first and second with two outs, but a flyout to right field ended the game.
Blake Vineyard recorded his team-best 15th multi-hit game in the second game of the twin bill and the third time he has had three hits in a game. He went 3-for-4 with an RBI.
The hero in game one,
Brayden Pelkey recorded his first dinger of the season and finished 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs and runs scored each.
Bryce Newman also added two hits.
Maxwell Schumacher tossed four-plus innings and recorded a UWA high in strikeouts with nine.
The Tigers will wrap up the series on Saturday from Tartt Field. Due to the threat of rain in the area, the contest has been moved up to a 10 a.m. start time.
