UWA comes back to win
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, March 3, 2004
CLEVELAND, MS-The University of West Alabama baseball team earned two come from behind victories on Saturday in Cleveland, Miss., as the Tigers defeated Delta State (10-4) 10-9 in game one and won 5-3 over Southeast Oklahoma (6-5) in game two.
In the first game, the Tigers trailed 9-7 before Randal Minton hit a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning, of a seven-inning game, to claim a 10-9 lead. Clint Chambless came in to pitch a scoreless bottom of the seventh to pick up the save for the Tigers. Matt Chambless (1-2) picked up the win for UWA, throwing 1.2 innings and allowing two hits and two runs (one earned).
Minton went 3-for-3, including a home run, with three RBI and two runs scored. Scott Needs added two hits for UWA with a home run, three runs scored, two RBI and a stolen base. Dustin Carter, Dustin Roberts and Rafael Farrell each had one hit and one RBI for the Tigers. A.J. Ray contributed two stolen bases to go along with a hit and one run scored.
Chris Reed (0-2) took the loss for the Statesmen, pitching one inning while allowing one hit and two runs. Clay Smith led DSU offensively with three hits, while Brett Donahoo and Mark Broome each had a home run for Delta State.
In game two, the Tigers trailed 3-1 before scoring four runs in the top of the seventh inning, of a seven-inning game, to take a 5-3 lead. Farrell and Roberts both had a two-RBI double in the seventh inning for West Alabama. Lee Boyd (2-0) picked up the win for UWA, throwing 6.2 innings while allowing six hits and three earned runs. Michael Riggs earned his first save of the season, coming in to get the last out for the Tigers.
Farrell had two hits and three RBI for the Tigers, while Roberts added a double and two RBI. Brandon Boles and Stephen Waggener had one hit each for West Alabama in game two.
Dustin McKay took the loss for Southeast Oklahoma, as he pitched .2 innings and allowed two hits and two runs. George Martinez led Southeast Oklahoma offensively with two hits and one RBI, while McKay added a home run.
The Tigers move to 10-7 on the season and return to action on Wednesday when they travel to face Arkansas-Monticello for a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m.