PENSACOLA, Fla. | The University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team downed West Alabama by a final score of 4-3 on Monday afternoon on day three of the 2016 Gulf South Conference tournament at Jim Spooner Field.
Tomorrow's matchup hinges on tonight's game between Delta State and West Georgia, as UAH will play DSU at 11 a.m. Tuesday if they win or the Chargers will take on the Statesmen at noon Tuesday with a loss to UWG.
The Chargers benefitted from a stellar starting performance by sophomore
Heath McRae, who worked 8.1 innings with six strikeouts and three runs allowed in a 150-pitch outing. McRae improved to 7-4 with the win.
After a scoreless first, West Alabama took the first lead of the game with two runs in the second, but UAH would quickly respond with three runs in the bottom half of the frame to take a 3-2 lead.
Wright Hackett started the Chargers scoring with a RBI single to center, followed by
Trey Mathis coming home on an errant throw to third on
Michael Fox's sac bunt attempt.
Zach Dugas would round out the three-run rally as he plated Fox from third on a groundout to the UWA shortstop.
In the following inning, the Tigers plated one run to knot the contest at 3-3, prior to
Matt Spruill delivering the game-deciding run on a solo homer to left in the bottom of the fifth.
McRae notched one out in the ninth inning before boarding a pair of runners, forcing UAH head coach
Hunter Royer to turn to closer
Taylor Clemons for the final two outs en route to the 4-3 win. Clemons – the GSC Freshman of the Year – was credited with his ninth save of 2016.
UAH recorded a total of 10 hits in the contest, led by
Ben Rhodes, Mathis and Spruill with two base hits apiece.
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