UWA spilt opening day series in baseball
Published 12:00 am Thursday, February 12, 2004
LIVINGSTON, AL-After splitting a doubleheader with the 1-2 Columbus State University Cougars on Saturday, the 4-2 West Alabama Tigers finished the series off on Sunday with a 3-2 win at Tart Field
The Cougars won the first game of the three-game series13-6, but the Tigers would rally in game two for a 5-4 win which carried over to Sunday to help the Tigers win the series.
In game one, Columbus State plated eight runs in the second inning and would lead for the rest of the game. Brian Baker (1-0) picked up the win for the Cougars, throwing six innings and striking out seven batters while allowing five hits and one earned run. Jason Herman (1-1) took the loss for the Tigers as he struck out five batters in five innings of work, while allowing nine earned runs.
Dustin Carter led the way offensively for the Tigers with three hits, including two home runs and two RBI in game one. Jason Floyes had two hits for UWA, while teammate A.J. Ray had two stolen bases to go along with a hit and one RBI.
Larry Pittmon had four hits for the Cougars in game one, including two home runs and five RBI. Kurt McKee, David Brown, Billy Howard and Stephen McNelly all had two hits for Columbus State.
In game two, the Tigers scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 4-2 lead. Columbus State battled back to make it a 5-4 ballgame in the sixth inning, but freshman Matt Chambless came in to pick up the save for the Tigers. Chambless pitched 1.2 innings and allowed only one hit while striking out four batters. Ryan Taylor (2-0) picked up the win for West Alabama while Jon Habrack (0-1) took the loss for Columbus State. Taylor allowed four runs in 5.1 innings of work.
Brandon Boles had two hits, two RBI and two stolen bases for the Tigers in game two. Dustin Roberts hit a two-run shot in the third inning for West Alabama, while Ray and Scott Needs each had two hits.
Pittmon again led the Cougars offensively with three hits, including a home run, a double and four RBI. Billy Howard had a hit and scored two runs for Columbus State in game two.
On Sunday the Tigers scored a single run in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 2-0 lead over the Cougars. Columbus State made it a 3-2 ballgame with a run in the eighth, however Clint Chambless came in for UWA to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and pick up his first save of the season.
Freshman Ryne Lawson (1-1) picked up the win for UWA, pitching 5.1 innings while allowing five hits and only one run. Justin Maddox came in and pitched 2.2 strong innings of relief for the Tigers, allowing only one hit and one run. Nolan Pendleton (0-1) took the loss for the Cougars, allowing seven hits and three runs in seven innings pitched.
Rafael Farrell led West Alabama offensively with three hits including a double, while Jason Floyes and Scott Needs each had an RBI for the Tigers. A.J. Ray scored two runs and had one hit for UWA. Dustin Carter and Dustin Roberts also had hits for the Tigers.
Larry Pittmon again led the Cougars with three hits and two runs scored. Kurt McKee had two hits for Columbus State, while Sloan Burgess added a hit for the Cougars.
The Tigers (4-2) return to action on Wednesday when they host Miles College in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.