FLORENCE, Ala. – The University of North Alabama stranded 17 base runners in dropping a home Gulf South Conference double-header to West Florida at Mike Lane Field, 9-2 and 4-3.
The Lions fell behind 7-0 in the opener before scoring two runs in the seventh but could get no closer. UNA out-hit UWF 12-to-11 in that game but stranded 11 runners. In the nightcap, UNA trailed 2-0 before scoring three runs in the third. The Lions then gave up single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to fall 4-3.
UNA is now 10-5 overall and 5-3 in the GS. West Florida improved to 11-6 and 6-2.
In the opener, UNA starter
Todd Gibson struckout the first five batters in the game but then surrendered five runs on five hits in the second inning. The Argonauts then added single runs in the third and fourth innings to push the lead to 7-0. UNA's Haden Holt walked,
Kyle Crabtree singled and
Conner Kiser walked to load the bases in the seventh.
Kevin Hall then ripped a two-run single to make it 7-2. UWF got those two runs back in the ninth and held on for the 9-2 win. Gibson (2-1) took the loss for UNA, pitching 8 and two thirds innings. He allowed eight runs on nine hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
Austin Carpenter gave up a run on two hits in one third of an inning. Walker O'Connor (4-0) pitch six and two thirds innings to get the win for the Argonauts.
A hit batter, two passed balls and a sacrifice bunt gave UWF the lead in the second inning of game two and another hit batter scored after back-to-back singles in the third to make it 2-0. UNA got a leadoff double in the third from
Peyton Sockwell, followed by a
Conner Kiser walk and an RBI single from Hall.
Kyle Hubbuch followed with an RBI single to tie the game and Kiser scored on an RBI single by
Davis Elliott to give UNA a 3-2 lead. The tying run scored in the fourth after Justin Ambrosino walked and later scored on a balk off UNA starter
Bradley Bailey.
Devan Traglia then came on in relief in the fifth and a leadoff home run to Nic Strasser that would prove to be the winning run.
UNA managed just one base runner and no hits over the final four innings.
Traglia (1-2) took the loss for UNA.
The Lions and Argonauts will play the final game of the series Sunday at 1 p.m.
