MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The No. 11 University of West Alabama baseball team secured the weekend series over Auburn Montgomery with a decisive 7-2 victory Saturday evening at the AUM Baseball Complex.
With the win, the Tigers improve to 12-1 overall and 4-1 in Gulf South Conference play, taking two of three on the road.
West Alabama wasted no time seizing control, erupting for five runs in the top of the first inning.
Rashad Robinson started the rally with a single up the middle and later scored on an RBI single by Hudson Walburn. Nick Wilson followed with an RBI double to center field, and Aaron Wallace added a run-scoring single to make it 3-0.
Diego Bryant delivered the biggest swing of the frame, launching a two-run home run to left field to cap the five-run outburst and give the Tigers a commanding early advantage.
UWA tallied six hits in the opening inning alone and never trailed the rest of the way.
Freshman right-hander Blake Westry (2-0) earned the win, tossing 5.0 innings and allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out five and issuing no walks. Both Auburn Montgomery runs came on solo home runs in the fourth inning, trimming the lead to 5-2.
From there, Thomas Kerby shut the door. The junior reliever worked 4.0 scoreless innings, giving up only two hits and striking out five to secure the victory.
The Tigers' pitching staff combined for 10 strikeouts and did not allow a walk in the game.
West Alabama finished with 11 hits in the contest, led by Wilson's 3-for-5 performance with two runs scored and an RBI. Bryant went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBIs, adding a solo shot in the eighth inning to extend the lead to 7-2.
Robinson collected two hits and stole a base, while Kyle Blevins added two hits and reached base three times. Walburn and Wallace each drove in a run in the opening frame.
The Tigers added an insurance run in the fifth when Wilson crossed the plate on a wild pitch before Bryant's second homer provided the final margin.
West Alabama closed out the game with a clean ninth inning to seal the series win and continue its strong start to conference play, starting 5-1 in conference for the first time since 2013. Will now turn their attention to Spring Hill College on Tuesday, February 24th at 4 PM in Mobile.
