Box Score
TAMPA, Fla. – Sophomore Drew Eiland pitched a gem, and the sixth-seeded University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team claimed an opening round upset victory over the third-seeded Lynn Fighting Knights, 2-0, at the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament on Friday at the University of Tampa Baseball Field.
After the day, UAH improves to 32-22 overall while ninth-ranked Lynn falls to 34-15 on the year. With the victory, the Chargers snap a four-game losing streak to Lynn who swept UAH in a four-game series earlier this season.
Eiland (8-3) picked up the victory for the Chargers, pacing UAH for 8.2 innings in the contest while scattering eight hits and striking out six. He registered no walks in the game. Cody Barrett relieved Eiland with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and got the final batter to ground out to seal the win, notching his ninth save of the year in the process.
In addition, Eiland and the Chargers held Daktronics South Region Player of the Year Anthony Boza (0-for-4) hitless throughout the game. Boza had hit four homers against UAH in the series played earlier this season.
After five scoreless frames, the Chargers opened the scoring with two outs in the top of the sixth inning. Back-to-back singles by Ty Chancelor and Eric Deese put runners on the corners with one out, as Chancelor had already moved over to second on a throwing error after his single. Justin Riddle then hit a sac fly to centerfield, scoring Chancelor and giving UAH an early 1-0 lead.
After Lynn's starting pitcher plunked Mike Love with no outs and was pulled in the seventh, UAH added another run off his replacement. Jon McKinney singled to move Love over to third, which was followed by a RBI single by Blake Massey to extend the Chargers' advantage to 2-0.
Lynn would not go quietly, however, as the Fighting Knights connected on a back-to-back single and double to put runners on second and third with two outs. The Chargers' closer Barrett then relieved Eiland at this point and forced the batter into a groundout to help seal the victory for UAH.
Shawn Kale (5-1) started on the hill for Lynn and was tagged with his first loss of the year, working 6.0 innings and allowing two runs – one earned – on five hits, two walks and seven strikeouts.
The Chargers advance in the double-elimination tournament to face the No. 2-seeded Delta State Statesmen, who defeated North Alabama by a score of 2-0 Thursday night. UAH and DSU will meet at UT Baseball Field at 7:45 p.m. ET on Friday night.
