Box Score
TAMPA, Fla. – It was a back-and-forth battle, but the sixth-seeded University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team emerged with its second upset of the day, knocking off second-seeded Delta State by a score of 6-5 at the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament on Friday at the University of Tampa Baseball Field.
After the day, UAH improves to 33-22 overall while 10th-ranked Delta State falls to 41-13 on the year. With the victory, the Chargers evens the season series with the Statesmen as both squads have now claimed three victories each.
There were four lead changes throughout the contest, but UAH pushed three crucial runs across in the sixth and seventh innings, and held off a late charge from Delta State who plated two runs in the ninth. Over the first two games in this tournament, the Chargers' pitching staff has allowed just one earned runs in 18 innings.
David Kendrick (7-2) led that effort tonight, working six innings on the hill and allowing three runs – one earned – on seven hits and no walks. Dana Wright relieved Kendrick for 1.2 scoreless innings of work, while Cody Barrett closed the game with 1.1 innings on the bump. Barrett allowed two unearned runs on two hits and one strikeout.
After starting the game with back-to-back singles by Jordan Chovanec and Sam Kidd in the first inning, Delta State crossed the first run of the contest on a sac fly to centerfield to take an early 1-0 lead over the Chargers.
UAH answered with two runs in the third inning to take a 2-1 advantage. Justin Pearson started the two-run frame with a single into left field, and then moved all the way to third on a failed pickoff attempt by Delta State. Pearson tied the game as he crossed the plate on a passed ball, which also allowed Chandler Brock to reach first on a dropped third strike. Brock then scored the go-ahead run from second when Eric Deese laced a double into left centerfield.
DSU then brought in another run in the fourth to tie the game at 2-2, before the Chargers struck again for a run in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead, 3-2. Vincent Kortbawi hammered a first-pitch double off the wall in right center before scoring from third on a wild pitch later in the frame, giving UAH its second lead of the game.
In the sixth inning, the Statesmen again knotted the game, but on an unfortunate play for the Chargers, as Pearson went down on the play and left the game with an injury. UAH continued to answer the DSU runs and regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded and just one out, Blake Massey hit a deep sac fly to left field, which scored Riddle from third and gave the Chargers the lead, 4-3.
Riddle broke the game open for UAH in the bottom of the seventh with a ripped single into right center, scoring two runners from second and third to put the Chargers up 6-3.
Delta State tried to close the gap in the eighth inning with the bases loaded, but with two outs UAH closer Barrett entered the game to work the batter into a fly out in right field to get the Chargers out of the jam. The Statesmen did bring across two runs in the top of the ninth, cutting the UAH lead to 6-5 but left the tying run stranded on second.
The Chargers advance in the double-elimination tournament to the winner's bracket final where they will face the No. 8-seeded Stillman Tigers, who toppled No. 1-ranked Tampa and fifth-seeded Nova Southeastern to reach the winner's bracket final. UAH and Stillman will meet at UT Baseball Field at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night, as they battle for a bye and a spot in the championship series.
