HUNTSVILLE | The University of Alabama in Huntsville opened the 2015 season with a doubleheader sweep of Maryville by scores of 11-1 and 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at Charger Park. UAH is now 2-0 on the season, while Maryville dips to 0-2.
 
The defending Gulf South Conference Champions flexed their muscle early and often in the opening game against the Saints, as the Blue and White jumped out to 2-0 advantage in the first inning thanks to RBI base hits by Ryan Barnes and Trey Mathis.
 
UAH added to the lead with three consecutive innings of crooked numbers from the third to the fifth inning, including a three-run shot by Mathis, a solo homer by AJ Walden, and a three-run blast by Colton Simbeck. A single run in the sixth would cap the Chargers scoring effort and brought the game to its 11-1 final.
 
Senior Daniel Koger – in his first start with UAH – was impeccable in 6.0 innings of work allowing just one run on a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth. The southpaw earned his first win with UAH, while posting seven strikeouts and one walk.
 
The second game was a definitive pitcher's duel as the game went scoreless through the first three frames. Right-hander Chris Kilpatrick – also making his first start at UAH – was efficient with three strikeouts and no hits allowed in his first three innings of work.
 
Maryville was able to take a 1-0 lead in the fourth as Matt Wilkinson sent a solo home run to left, but the Chargers fought right back in the bottom half adding a run on a RBI single by Simbeck.
 
The tie would remain until the sixth when Ben Hall ripped a double to left to score Brandon Lawing from third base. Luke Mould earned the win after relieving Kilpatrick in the sixth, tossing 2.0 innings of shutout baseball with one strikeout and zero walks. Mould is now 1-0 on the season.
 
The Chargers will look to sweep the three-game set over the Saints on Sunday afternoon with the series finale scheduled for 1 p.m. at Charger Park.