LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama baseball team hit double digits in the run column and defeated Southeastern Baptist University, 10-4, in a midweek contest Tuesday afternoon from Tartt Field.
West Alabama inches closer to the .500 mark with the win and improves to 17-18. Southeastern Baptist falls to 13-10.
The Tigers continued their success when scoring first in the game and in the first inning. After a lead off single through the left side, he moved over to third on an infield bunt single by
Blake Vineyard and a bad throw by the SBC third baseman.
Houston Kitterman then sent a fly ball to center for the sacrifice fly.
After
Graham Holland faced the minimum in the second after Rodderian Evans was picked off at first base, the Tigers used timely hitting and great plate discipline to break the contest wide open.
Will Wood, in the number nine spot, flipped the lineup back to the top of the order with an RBI single to score
Chase Dejean.
After Newman recorded his second base knock in as many innings to load the bases, Vineyard was plunked with a pitch and
Jacob Messina scored to make it a 3-0 lead.
Wood made it a 4-0 affair as Kitterman chopped a ball to shortstop, but the Chargers could not record an out, as Vineyard beat the tag at second base to keep the bases loaded.
Newman scampered home on a wild pitch to make it a 5-0 lead, and after
Cade Horton re-loaded the bases on a free pass, Vineyard touched home plate on a passed ball by the Southeastern Baptist catcher.
UWA tacked on a single run in the next four innings to make it a 10-3 lead after six innings. In the fourth, Kitterman sent a fly ball over the fence to extend the lead to 8-0.
"It's good to win today; we've been struggling in the midweek, and this helps us to get ready for Lee this weekend," said assistant coach
Cameron Chafetz.
Bryce Newman recorded a 3-for-4 day at the plate, and
Houston Kitterman added three RBIs, but the bench shined for UWA in the contest.
Albert Hernandez reached on three of his four plate appearances with a double and RBI, while
Thomas Watson added an outfield assist in right field. Additionally,
Will Wood had a hit, RBI and two walks in the win.
"It's always good to see those guys step up and get an opportunity and do well with it," added Chafetz.
The Tigers' pitching staff allowed the Chargers to four innings of no contact with 12 punchouts.
Damon Putman led SBC with two hits in five trips to the plate.
Winners of three of their last four, West Alabama will next prepare for No. 15 Lee in Gulf South Conference action. The series starts Friday night in Cleveland, Tennessee.
