LIVINGSTON, Ala. - No. 6 West Alabama Tigers baseball saw an early lead slip away Friday afternoon, falling 14-9 in the series opener to Delta State Statesmen baseball at Ferriss Field in Cleveland.
West Alabama (21-6, 12-4 GSC) appeared in control midway through the contest, using a five-run fifth inning to build a 7-1 advantage. However, Delta State (15-10, 10-6 GSC) responded with a pair of explosive innings to flip the momentum and secure the win.
The Tigers got on the board in the third when Hudson Walburn lifted a sacrifice fly to score Layth Holiday, tying the game at 1-1. An inning later, Kyle Blevins delivered an RBI single to give West Alabama a 2-1 edge.
The game broke open in the top of the fifth. Rashad Robinson jumpstarted the inning with a solo home run before Walburn and Nick Wilson followed with extra-base hits to extend the lead. Hayes Alford added an RBI single, and Peyton Moss capped the surge with a two-run single as the Tigers pushed ahead 7-1.
Delta State answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. A two-run double from Landon Holliman sparked the rally before Tucker Jones launched a three-run homer. Levi Lang followed with a solo shot, trimming the Tigers' lead to 7-6.
The Statesmen carried that momentum into the sixth inning, where Jones struck again with another three-run homer to give Delta State its first lead of the day at 9-7. Additional RBI hits from Cade Greer and Cooper Walls extended the advantage to 11-7.
West Alabama attempted to claw back, getting a solo home run from Walburn in the eighth and a run in the ninth, but Delta State added insurance runs, including a two-run homer from Lang in the eighth to hold off the Tigers.
At the plate, West Alabama finished with 13 hits, led by Hayes Alford's three-hit, three-run performance. Walburn went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs, while Robinson added a homer and two walks. Blevins also contributed two hits and an RBI.
On the mound, Baker Green allowed six runs over 4.1 innings in the start. Camden Diamond (0-1) was charged with the loss after surrendering five runs in relief during the decisive sixth inning.
Delta State was powered by Tucker Jones, who went 3-for-4 with two home runs and six RBIs, while Levi Lang added two home runs and three RBIs in the win.
The Tigers will look to bounce back as the series continues with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 22nd at 1 and 4 PM.
