OXFORD, Ala. – The University of West Alabama baseball team exploded for eight runs in the first inning and never looked back, rolling to a 13-4 win over Montevallo on Tuesday at Choccolocco Park to secure the 2025 Gulf South Conference Championship, the program's first since 2015 and fourth overall.

UWA (32-23) came out of the gates firing, sending 12 batters to the plate in the opening frame. The Tigers racked up seven hits and capitalized on a Falcon error to take a commanding 8-0 lead. Joe Watkins opened the scoring with a solo home run, and the Tigers kept the pressure on with RBI singles from Jake Goolsby, Bryce Newman, Eli Burwash, and Blake Vineyard. Montevallo (29-25) responded with three runs of its own in the bottom half, but the early cushion proved more than enough.

Senior left-hander Bryant Quimby was electric in relief, tossing five shutout innings while allowing just two hits and striking out three to earn the win. He silenced Montevallo's bats and stranded multiple runners in scoring position to keep the Tigers in control.

UWA added insurance in the ninth with a four-run outburst, capped by a pair of RBI singles to push the final margin to 13-4. The Tigers finished with 13 hits and swiped three bases while holding Montevallo to nine hits and forcing two errors.

Vineyard led the Tigers at the plate, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, while Watkins delivered a two-RBI double in the seventh inning. Burwash added two hits and two RBIs, and Goolsby contributed a hit and two walks with a run scored.

On the mound, Quimby earned the win with 5.0 innings of relief, striking out three without allowing a run. Following their performances throughout the tournament, Quimby, Watkins, Vineyard, Goolsby, and Wilson were all named to the GSC All-Tournament Team, with Watkins earning the distinction of Most Outstanding Player.

With the GSC title secured, West Alabama will await its seeding in the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship. The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for this Sunday.