HUNTSVILLE | The University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team powered its way to a Gulf South Conference series-opening win by a score of 21-10 in seven innings on Friday evening at Charger Park against visiting West Alabama. UAH improves to 23-23 (14-13 GSC), while UWA slides to 15-32 (11-17 GSC).
 
The Chargers offense smacked a total of seven home runs in the 21-10 victory on Friday, which included four round-trippers in the game-changing eight-run rally in the bottom of the third.
 
Griffin Rivers led the way in his return to the lineup with two, two-run home runs, while Garrett Bodine, Landon Ezzell, Brennan Vasquez, Dylan Johnston and Jeff Hunter each had one round-tripper. Rivers additionally finished with a team-high four RBI.
 
In total, UAH notched 24 base hits with all nine Chargers in the lineup notching two hits or more. Rottier and Johnston led the way with four base hits apiece, with two of Rottier's hits going for extra bases with a double and a triple.
 
Wells Deloney started on the mound for the Chargers, turning in 4.0 innings with four runs allowed and seven strikeouts for a no-decision.
 
Will Hotalen picked up the win in relief to improve to 2-1 this season, after tossing the final 3.0 innings with three runs allowed and three strikeouts.
 
After scoreless innings by both sides in the first and second, West Alabama pulled ahead with a three-run rally in the top of the third. UAH would turn the tables in the bottom half of the inning with the eight-run rally.
 
The Chargers added to their lead with two runs in the fourth, highlighted by Bodine's solo home run, before four runs in the fifth by the Tigers cut the lead to 10-7.
 
Rivers second two-run homer of the game highlighted a three-run inning by the Chargers in the bottom of the fifth to push the advantage to 13-7.
 
West Alabama rallied for three more runs in the sixth to slim its deficit to 13-10, but the Chargers would erupt for another eight-run rally in the bottom of the sixth to bring the game to its 21-10 final score.
 
UAH and West Alabama will wrap up the three-game set with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. The UAH baseball program will honor its 2022 senior class prior to the first game.
 
Tomorrow's doubleheader will be part of Alumni Day at Charger Park. More information regarding Alumni Day at Charger Park.