Box Score Box Score
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team was defeated in its home opener, 3-1, by Martin Methodist on Tuesday afternoon at Charger Park. With the loss, UAH drops to 2-6 overall while the RedHawks improve to 3-5.
Although UAH starting pitcher Corey Hale (0-2) took the loss, the redshirt freshman had a strong outing, throwing 5.0 innings while allowing two runs – one earned – on four hits with seven strikeouts. It was a season-long outing on the hill for Hale, who also set a season-high for strikeouts – five of which came in the first seven outs.
Martin Methodist's starter Josh Brown picked up the win after working the complete game to move to 2-1 on the year. Brown allowed just one run on eight hits while sitting down three batters on strikes.
The RedHawks got on the board first, scoring the first run in the first inning off UAH this season. The leadoff batter, Matt Thomas, singled to Hale who then sailed the throw to first over the first baseman's head to advance the runner to second base. After a passed ball to move Thomas over to third, Hale delivered a wild pitch which broke open the scoring as Thomas crossed the plate.
UAH answered in the bottom of the fourth when senior designated hitter Eddie Villalta homered over the left field wall, knotting the score at 1-1. It was the first blast of the season for Villalta.
The tie was short-lived as Martin Methodist added a run in the top of the fifth inning and sixth inning, taking a 3-1 lead that would last the remainder of the contest.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Chargers had runners on first and second with just one out, but a foul-out and a groundout ended the threat of a rally.
Villalta was 1-for-4 and scored the Chargers' only run of the game. Freshman Chandler Brock finished the game as the only UAH player with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 from the plate.
UAH returns to the road as the squad travels to Searcy, Ark., to face former GSC member Harding in a four-game series by way of back-to-back doubleheaders on Feb. 18-19. First pitch on Feb. 18 will be thrown at Jerry Moore Field at 1 p.m. CST while the Feb. 19 games will commence at 2 p.m. CST.
