HUNTSVILLE | The University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team started off a three-game Gulf South Conference series at Charger Park with a doubleheader sweep of West Georgia by scores of 12-7 and 14-1 on Friday afternoon. UAH improves to 19-21 (11-11 GSC), while UWG slips to 19-17 (9-13 GSC).
 
The Chargers and Wolves will wrap up the three-game series on Saturday with a noon first pitch.
 
UAH 12, UWG 7
The Chargers offense was hot early with seven runs in the first three innings which, in addition to a three-run rally in the seventh, propelled the Blue & White to the game-one victory over West Georgia.
 
Connor Brooks was steady on the mound in his 11th start of the season, as he did not allow a run by the Wolves through the first five innings. His record improves to 5-3, after working 5.2 innings with five runs allowed and one strikeout.
 
Kody Keiser picked up his second save of the season, finishing off the final 3.1 innings with two runs allowed and two strikeouts.
 
Carson Villalta led the Chargers at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two doubles, two runs, one RBI and one walk as he paced a total of six UAH batters with two hits or more.
 
Brennan Vasquez and Dylan Johnston both finished second to Villalta with three-hit performances, with Vasquez notching one double and Johnston driving in two runs.
 
Landon Ezzell continued his power streak with a two-run home run in the second to give him 11 round-trippers on the year, while going 2-for-5 with a team-high three runs in the contest. Ezzell additionally stole two bases, tying with Garrett Bodine for the team lead.
 
UAH 14, UWG 1
The Chargers rallied for three runs in the bottom of the first, which was all UAH starting pitcher Tyler Self needed as the right-hander hurled six shutout innings in the 14-1 victory in game two Saturday.
 
Self was additionally buoyed by an eight-run bottom of the third by the Chargers in the explosive victory, as the Southside, Alabama, native ended the game with four strikeouts and zero walks over his six-inning performance.
 
UAH's offense was led by Landon Ezzel with a team-high five RBI while going 3-for-4 with three runs, a homer and a double. He now has 12 home runs this season and has hit one in three straight games.
 
Mitchell Rottier tied with Ezzell for the team lead in runs scored with three while posting one hit, one RBI and one walk.
 
Jeff Hunter also had a strong day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI. Hunter hit his eighth homer of the season on a solo shot in the sixth.
 
UAH has now secured GSC series wins three times in 2022.