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Box Score 2
VALDOSTA, Ga. – The University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team notched its fourth Gulf South Conference series by sweeping No. 28 Valdosta State in a Saturday doubleheader. The Chargers used a five-run ninth inning en route to a 9-3 victory in game one at Billy Grant Field before rallying for a 5-3 decision in the nightcap.
After the day, UAH improves to 24-18 overall and 13-7 in the conference while VSU falls to 20-14 on the season and 10-6 in league play. UAH now sits alone atop the GSC standings, and with just four games remaining in conference play, the Chargers now have a two-game lead in the standings.
The two teams return to the diamond Sunday with first pitch scheduled for noon CDT.
GAME ONE
UAH used a five-run ninth frame to down the home-standing Valdosta State Blazers by a score of 9-3 in game one.
Ty Chancelor and Grant DeBruin led the Chargers in the contest, as both hit 2-for-4 with two RBI each. DeBruin also legged out a double – his 14th of the year. Both RBI came in the five-run ninth for the duo.
The two teams traded a pair of runs each in the fifth before VSU took an early 3-2 lead after crossing another run on an infield single in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The lead didn't last long as UAH knotted the game again in the seventh on a SAC fly. With loaded bases in the top of the eighth, Eric Deese slapped a single through the left side to gain the lead it wouldn't relinquish, scoring one run and going up 4-3 before the five-run ninth.
Drew Eiland (5-3) picked up the victory after working 7.0 innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out three. Dana Wright posted 2.0 scoreless innings in relief of Eiland, while allowing just one hit and striking out two batters.
GAME TWO
Down 2-1 midway through the game, UAH rallied with three runs in the top of the sixth inning to grab a 5-3 victory in the second game on Saturday. With the win, the Chargers clinched their fourth GSC series victory of the season.
Ty Chancelor opened the scoring in the top of the third inning with a solo shot over the left field wall for his sixth homer of the season.
VSU plated two unearned runs in the fourth inning, however, to take over the lead, 2-1. The runs came by a runner who reached base on a fielding error earlier in the frame and the other run was on a wild pitch.
In the sixth inning, UAH began to rally with three runs – all coming off singles by Justin Riddle, Jon McKinney and Chancelor. Mike Love added a single to bring across another run for the Chargers in the seventh as UAH went up 5-2.
The Blazers had the tying run on base when the game ended in the seventh after having already scored a run on another fielding error.
Picking up the victory for UAH was Johnny Shuttlesworth (3-1) who hurled 6.0 innings, allowing two unearned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five. Cody Barrett picked up his sixth save after working the final inning, giving up one unearned run on two hits while striking out one.
Also notable, the Chargers' pitching staff held the GSC's top two hitters (Christian Glisson, Cameron Graves) to just 1-for-7 from the plate in the contest. In both games combined, the Blazers' top hitting duo batted just 3-for-13.
