GSC Tournament Info

LIVINGSTON, Ala. | The University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team clinched a berth to the upcoming in the Gulf South Conference tournament with a doubleheader split at West Alabama on Saturday to wrap up the regular season, falling in the first contest 2-1 before taking the finale 9-2. UAH improves to 22-25 (15-18 GSC), while UWA moves to 32-16 (21-11 GSC).
 
UWA 2, UAH 1
Game-Changer
- Both sides benefitted from stellar starting pitching performances, but UWA's Layton Dill edged UAH's Taylor Clemons in the pitchers' duel as Dill posted 8.1 innings with one run allowed on the way to the 2-1 win in game one of the doubleheader.
 
Inside the Box Score
- In his most impressive starting performance with the Chargers, Clemons worked 7.1 innings with nine strikeouts and two runs allowed despite incurring the loss to dip his record to 3-4 this season.
- The Chargers totaled seven hits in the loss, led by Ben Rhodes and Jay Copeland with two base hits apiece.
- Mathis recorded the Blue & White's lone run and extra-base hit – a double – during game one of the doubleheader.
- Rhodes led the squad as well with one stolen base.
 
Key Plays
- UAH took the first lead of the contest in the top of the second when Trey Mathis scored on an error during a bunt single by Jay Copeland.
- West Alabama knotted the game at 1-1 on a solo homer by Nick Delgado which would stand until the bottom of the eighth.
- The Tigers notched the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth on a Clemons' wild pitch to bring the game to its eventual 2-1 final.
 
Noteworthy
- Clemons set career-highs in both innings pitched (7.1) and strikeouts (9).
- UAH did not commit an error in a game for the 14th game this season.
 
UAH 9, UWA 2
Game-Changer
- The Chargers scored in three consecutive innings with one run in the third, two runs in the fourth and a weekend-high three runs in the fifth on the way to the 9-2 win in the finale at UWA.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Will Myers had another impeccable start for UAH with 7.0 innings with two runs allowed, three hits and 11 strikeouts, earning the win to improve to 6-3 on the season.
- The Chargers totaled 12 base hits in the victory, paced by Jay Copeland with three base hits.
- UAH benefitted from a total of four multi-hit performances in addition to Copeland's three, which includes AJ Walden, Trey Mathis and Wright Hackett with two hits each.
- Josh Giegling and Walden tied for the team-lead in RBI with two apiece, while Walden led the squad with two extra-base hits with a double and a homer.
- Rhodes notched the lone UAH stolen base in the contest.
- Four different Chargers drew one walk.
 
Key Plays
- UAH jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a RBI double down the left field line by Walden in the top of the first, which was negated in the bottom half of the frame on one run by the Tigers.
- West Alabama pulled ahead with another run in the second, but UAH was able to knot the game at 2-2 on Walden's solo home run to left.
- The Chargers plated two runs in the third, prior to a three-run outburst in the fourth – highlighted by a two-RBI double by Giegling – to lead 7-2.
- UAH brought the game to its 9-2 final with two more runs in the seventh as Zach Duvall scored on an error and Hackett scored on a sac bunt by Tanner Burns.
 
Noteworthy
- UAH will be making its eighth straight GSC tournament and it's the 16th berth in program history.
- Walden now has a career-high 11 home runs in GSC play, which leads the conference this season.
- Myers has four games with 10 strikeouts or more in 2017.
 
Next Time Out
- UAH opens the 2017 GSC tournament – hosted by No. 1 seed Delta State – as the No. 8 seed against the Statesmen next Saturday at 8:30 p.m. The GSC tournament is under a new three-day, pool play format, and UAH is guaranteed matchups on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and Monday at 10:00 a.m. in addition to Saturday's contest to help decide the pool winner's for the GSC championship game.