MILLINGTON, Tenn.
– The University of North Alabama baseball
team battled but came up short Sunday in an
11-4 loss to West Alabama that eliminated
the Lions from the Gulf South Conference
Tournament.
With the loss,
UNA ends its season at 29-21, marking the
first time since 1988 that a Lion team
failed to win 30 or more games in a season.
UNA battled
back from a 4-1 deficit to tie the game in
the sixth but then promptly allowed seven
runs in the seventh inning and couldn’t
recover.
Jeff Schafer
(4-4) took the loss for UNA, allowing three
runs on four hits in one and 2/3 innings of
relief.
UNA finished
with 13 hits and made two errors while the
Tigers had 11 runs on 14 hits with three
errors.
North Alabama
jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of
the first inning as Jeffery Ritter doubled
down the rightfield line and scored on a
single by Josh Graham. Justin Fleming and
the Lion defense came out strong as well as
the Lions turned three double plays in the
first three innings in holding the Tigers
scoreless.
West Alabama
finally got going in the fourth as Tres
Avans reached on an error and then UNA
intentionally walked Nick Wheeler with two
outs. Matt Busbee followed with a triple
into right field to score both runners and
give the Tigers a 2-1 lead. Clint Moody was
hit by a pitch and West Alabama scored its
final run of the inning on a double steal
attempt with UNA throwing the ball away
during the rundown.
The Tigers
added a run in the fifth when Jeremy Finney
reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second,
went to third on a wild pitch and scored on
a single by Todd Rea.
North Alabama
rallied in the sixth to tie the game. Josh
Graham and Trey Pollard had back-to-back
singles and and Matt Horton reached on an
error to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Caleb
Kidd reached on error and two runs scored to
make it 4-3. Qualon Millender singled to
score Horton and tie the game.
West Alabama
quickly answered in the seventh, scoring
seven runs on five hits, a walk and a hit
batter to go on top 11-4.
Graham led UNA
at the plate, going four-for-five.
Printable Game
Statistics - Game 50 - West Alabama (Gulf
South Conference Tournament)
