CLINTON, Miss. | The University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team split the Gulf South Conference series-opening doubleheader at Mississippi College on Friday evening with an 18-7 win in game one before dropping the nightcap 3-0. UAH now sits at 19-21 (12-14 GSC), while MC moves to 16-21 (12-13 GSC).
 
UAH 18, MC 7
Game-Changer
- The Chargers utilized a bevy of rallies on the way to an 18-7 win in the series opener on Friday, as the potent UAH offense pushed across three runs in the second, four runs in the third and seven runs in the ninth for its second-highest run total of the season.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Mississippi College took the first lead in the top of the first with one run, but UAH responded with three runs in the second on a two-RBI double by Wright Hackett and a RBI groundout by Justin Ware.
- UAH piled on four more runs in the third – highlighted by a solo home run by Ben Rhodes to centerfield – to lead the Choctaws 7-1, which was slimmed to 7-3 after two runs by the hosts in the bottom half of the third.
- AJ Walden followed by the Choctaws two runs with a two-run home run to left field to push the advantage to 9-3, but MC drew within three at 9-6 with a three-run rally in the bottom of the fourth.
- Two runs by UAH in the fifth and one run in the sixth by Mississippi College made it at 12-7 Charger lead, before UAH broke it open to an 18-7 advantage with a seven-run rally in the top of the ninth thanks to RBI four base hits including Walden's second two-run homer of the day.
- The Chargers totaled 13 base hits in the victory, paced by Hackett with three hits. Burns, Rhodes and Walden each had two base knocks.
- Walden finished with a game-high four RBI.
- UAH drew 11 walks in the contest, led by Josh Giegling with three free passes in addition to two walks apiece by Rhodes, Walden and Lance Cleveland.
- Jake Bracewell earned the win to improve to 2-3 on the year after a stellar outing of relief with 5.1 innings pitched with one run allowed and four strikeouts.
 
Noteworthy
- Walden now leads the Chargers with 10 home runs this season, giving him three straight seasons of 10 homers or more in addition to a third-place ranking in UAH program history with 34 round-trippers.
- The Chargers 11 walks were the most in a game this season, and the most since Feb. 14, 2016 against Tuskegee.
- With three stolen bases in the series opener, UAH has stolen two or more bases in five straight games.
 
MC 3, UAH 0
Game-Changer
- The Choctaws benefitted from a stellar starting pitching performance by Hunter Mullis in the 3-0 win in the nightcap Friday, as the left-hander held the UAH offense scoreless over 7.0 innings with 12 strikeouts.
 
Inside the Box Score
- UAH starting pitcher Will Myers was equally strong on the mound in the early going, as both squads were scoreless through two full innings.
- Mississippi College pushed through one run in the bottom of the third to take the lead over UAH, and were able to add two insurance runs in the fifth off Myers to bring the game to its 3-0 final.
- Myers was handed the loss in his start, working 6.0 innings with three runs allowed and six strikeouts.
- UAH notched three hits in the loss, with Justin Ware, Ben Rhodes and Zach Duvall collecting base knocks.
 
Noteworthy
- This was the first shutout hurled against UAH since March 31, 2014.
 
Next Time Out
- UAH and Mississippi College wrap up the three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m.