ROME, Ga. | The University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team started off a three-game Gulf South Conference series at Shorter with a 6-3 victory on Friday afternoon. UAH improves to 22-21 (13-11 GSC), while SU slips to 21-17 (12-12 GSC).
 
The Chargers and Hawks will wrap up the three-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.
 
Tyler Self made the start on the mound for the Chargers in the series-opener on Friday, turning in 7.0 innings with three runs allowed and eight strikeouts. His record improves to 5-5 with the win.
 
Will Hotalen slammed the door shut on UAH's victory out of the bullpen, as he worked the final 2.0 innings with no runs allowed, zero walks and one strikeout. Hotalen picks up his third save of the season.
 
UAH's offense notched eight base hits in the win, led by Dylan Johnston and Colin Brewer with two hits apiece. Five Chargers notching one RBI against the Hawks, including Garrett Bodine, Mitchell Rottier, Landon Ezzell, Brennan Vasquez and Brewer.
 
The Chargers recorded two extra-base hits on Friday, including Ezzell's team-leading 14th home run. He is now tied for seventh for home runs in a single season in program history.
 
Shorter went ahead early with a single run in the bottom of the first, but a three-run rally in the second by UAH gave the squad a 3-1 lead.
 
UAH added one more run in the third off Brewer's RBI single to left, with Shorter scoring one run each in the fourth and fifth innings to slim UAH's advantage to 4-3.
 
Rottier extended the lead in the sixth with an RBI groundout, prior to a solo home run by Ezzell in the eighth to bring the game to its 6-3 final score.
 
The Chargers have now won five straight matchups against the Hawks.