MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The No. 9 University of West Alabama baseball team capped off a dominant weekend in Gulf South Conference play, sweeping Christian Brothers University with a pair of 11-3 wins Saturday afternoon at Canale Field.
With the sweep, the Tigers improve to 15-2 overall and 8-1 in GSC action.
Game One: UWA 11 - CBU 3
West Alabama wasted no time setting the tone in the opener, scoring in the second inning as Tanner Jones stole home to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
The bats erupted in the third inning with four runs on five hits. Kyle Blevins sparked the rally with a two-run double before Tanner Jones and Will Wood followed with RBI singles. Hayes Alford capped the inning with an RBI double to push the lead to 5-0.
The Tigers added four more runs in the sixth, capitalizing on timely hitting and three passed balls by the Buccaneers. Wayne Wilkerson and Blevins each delivered RBI singles in the frame as UWA built a commanding 9-0 advantage.
West Alabama tacked on two more in the eighth on an RBI double from Wilkerson and an RBI single by Jones to extend the lead to 11-1.
Blake Westry (6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 4 K) earned the win, holding Christian Brothers scoreless through six innings. Thomas Kerby worked the final three frames, allowing three runs while striking out one.
Offensively, the Tigers tallied 15 hits. Wilkerson went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs, while Jones finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Blevins added two hits and three RBIs, and Austin Thacker scored three times.
Game Two: UWA 11 - CBU 3
The Tigers jumped out front again in game two, plating three runs in the first inning behind aggressive baserunning and taking advantage of wild pitches and passed balls.
In the second, Hudson Walburn delivered a two-run double before Nick Wilson launched a two-run homer to stretch the lead to 7-1.
Kyle Blevins added a solo home run in the fourth, and Layth Holiday chipped in with an RBI single as West Alabama pushed the margin to 10-2. The Tigers added another run in the fifth on a balk to close out the scoring at 11-3.
Colin Woodham earned the win on the mound, tossing 5.0 innings and allowing three runs while striking out five.
West Alabama collected 11 hits in the nightcap. Thacker scored three runs and added two hits, while Wilson drove in two and homered. Walburn, Blevins, and Holiday each recorded RBIs in the win.
The Tigers return home to Tartt Field next weekend for a key GSC matchup against Valdosta State University, beginning Friday, March 6, at 5 p.m.
