HUNTSVILLE | The No. 5 University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team won the Gulf South Conference series opener on Friday night at Charger Park by a final score of 6-2 over Union. UAH improves to 33-6-1 (19-6-1 GSC), while UU slips to 7-33 (5-23 GSC).

The Chargers clinch a berth in the 2015 GSC Tournament with tonight's win.

Senior Daniel Koger was spectacular on Friday night, tossing a season-high 12 strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work. The lefty allowed one unearned run, three hits and issued zero walks, while improving his record to a rotation-leading 9-1 this season.

Koger entered into a pitcher's duel in the opener with Union's Marty Coursey, who pitched 7.0 innings with three earned runs allowed to earn the loss for the evening. Both pitchers tossed two scoreless frames to open the game, but reigning GSC Freshman of the Week AJ Walden gave the Chargers a 2-0 lead with a two-run double off the centerfield wall in the bottom of the third.

The UAH starter Koger continued to throw scoreless fourth and fifth innings, before UAH added one run in the sixth on a RBI triple down the right-field line by senior Cody Burton to make it 3-0 Chargers.

Union chipped in one unearned run in the seventh to eliminate the shutout, but the Blue and White rallied for three insurance runs in the eighth to make it 6-1 UAH. Burton notched his second RBI triple of the game – tying a program record for triples in a game – to highlight the rally.

The Bulldogs brought the game within four with one unearned run in the ninth off UAH reliever Charlie Weaver, who finished off the series-opening win. Senior Luke Mould also worked one inning out of the bullpen, striking out two in a scoreless eighth inning for Union.

The Chargers managed a total of 10 base hits on Friday night, led by Burton with a 3-for-5 performance with two RBI. Michael Fox and Colton Simbeck each had two-hit performances as well.

UAH and Union will wrap up the three-game set at Charger Park tomorrow beginning at noon. The Senior Day ceremony will take place 20 minutes prior to first pitch on Saturday.