HUNTSVILLE | The No. 4 University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team lost the Gulf South Conference series finale to Delta State by a score of 9-5 at Charger Park on a rain-soaked Sunday afternoon. UAH slips to 17-4-1 (11-4-1 GSC), while DSU improves to 7-9 (6-5 GSC).

Delta State had early success against UAH starting pitcher Tyler Howell, as the left-hander was tagged for five earned runs with one walk allowed and a strikeout. Howell's record dipped to 2-2 with the loss.

A two-run homer in the top of the first by Jacob Swiney gave the Statesmen an early lead, and added three more runs in the top of the third to make it a 5-0 advantage thanks to an RBI base hit by Ethan Gill and a two-RBI double by Landon Thibodeaux.

Swiney notched an RBI single in the top of the fourth to put DSU ahead 6-0 for the visitor's largest lead of the afternoon, before UAH added a pair of runs in both the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings to cut the Statesmen lead to 6-4.

Both sides traded runs in the top of the seventh and bottom of the eighth to keep the DSU lead within two runs, before Gill launched a two-run homer to left to give DSU some cushion on a 9-5 lead that went on to be the final.

Senior Luke Mould was efficient out of the bullpen, tossing 4.0 innings with three hits allowed and an unearned run.

UAH totaled eight hits on the afternoon, led by Ryan Barnes and Trey Mathis who had a pair of base hits apiece. Ben Hall paced the offense with three walks, while Burton right behind with two walks and a team-high two runs scored.

The Chargers look ahead to five away games in the coming week, beginning with a doubleheader at Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday at 2 p.m. UAH will wrap up the week with a trip to rival North Alabama on Saturday and Sunday.