HUNTSVILLE | The University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team split the doubleheader on Saturday afternoon with West Georgia to win the first series in Gulf South Conference play, falling in the first 17-5 and winning the second 5-4. UAH is now 6-1 (2-1 GSC), while UWG holds a record of 7-3 (1-2 GSC).

The West Georgia bats were hot in the opening game, as the Wolves posted crooked numbers in five of the seven innings completed. Senior lefty Tyler Howell (1-1) made the start for the Chargers, and was roughed up for six runs – four earned – through 2.1 innings to earn the loss.

Wilson Adams relieved Howell midway through the third frame, but he also fell victim to the hot UWG bats finishing the game with 1.1 innings, five hits and five earned runs allowed.

The brunt of the damage came in the fourth inning as UWG put together a five-run rally on four hits. The Chargers were able to add single runs in the second and fourth while rallying for three in the bottom of the seventh. However, the offense wasn't enough to overcome and UAH lost 17-5 after seven to open the doubleheader.

The Chargers offense bounced back in the second game on Saturday, posting two runs in both the first and second innings to hold a 4-1 lead after the Wolves registered one in the top of the second. RBI base hits by Chandler Brock and Trey Mathis highlighted the scoring in the first, with Colton Simbeck sending his third home run of the season -  a two-run blast – over the left field wall in the second.

The Wolves added one run in the third and two in the fourth to tie the game at 4-4. The runs were tagged to UAH starter Chris Kilpatrick, who worked 4.1 innings with three strikeouts, four walks and four runs allowed.

Senior infielder Ben Hall keyed the Chargers victory with a solo homer to right field – his first of the year – to put UAH back ahead 5-4. Senior Luke Mould (1-0) secured his first win of the season on Saturday, completing 2.1 innings with no hits or walks allowed while striking out four.

The Blue and White will head out for an eight-game road swing, beginning at Miles on Wednesday, before the squad heads to Cleveland, Tennessee to take on Lee in a three game set next weekend. The tail end of the trip features visits to Stillman (Feb. 25) and Mississippi College (Feb. 28-March 1).