HUNTSVILLE | The University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team dropped the opening game of a three-game Gulf South Conference series by a score of 7-5 to Shorter on Sunday night at Charger Park. UAH dips to 5-5 (0-1 GSC), while SU improves to 7-4 (2-2 GSC).
 
Game-Changer
-After UAH cut the Shorter lead to 6-4 with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, the Hawks bullpen held the Chargers to one run over the final three innings for the 7-5 win.
 
Key Plays
- Shorter was first on the board with one run in the top of the third, but UAH responded in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run to left field by Palmer Ford to even the game at 1-1.
- The Hawks added one run in the fifth before a four-run eruption in the sixth to own a 6-1 lead over the Chargers.
- UAH put together a three-run rally in the sixth to cut the deficit to 6-4, as Will Stump, Will Acuff and Tyler McCown each drove in a run in the frame.
- Shorter pushed across one more run in the seventh to lead three runs, prior to McCown notching an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to bring the game to its final score of 7-5.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Ford finished the game 2-for-3 with a team-high two runs scored, one RBI and a solo home run.
- Malave Bettinger also had a multi-hit game with a 2-for-4 performance with one double and one walk.
- McCown posted a team-high two RBI and two walks in addition to one steal in a 1-for-4 day at the plate.
- Tyler Self started on the mound for the Chargers, as he took the loss to drop his season record to 0-1 after working 5.2 innings with five earned runs allowed and two strikeouts.
- Brooks Brophy and Ian McCoy combined to hold the Hawks scoreless over the final 1.2 innings out of the bullpen with a pair of strikeouts and zero walks.
- The Chargers offense was hit by a pitch six times on the day, led by Zach Duvall with two.
- UAH additionally drew six walks as a team against Shorter.
 
Noteworthy
- Ford's homer was the first of his career as a Charger.
- UAH's six hit-by-pitch are the most by the offense since last season against LeMoyne Owen on April 4.
 
Next Time Out
- UAH and Shorter wrap up the three-game set on Monday with a doubleheader at noon.