AMERICUS - The Georgia Southwestern baseball team rallied from four runs down in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader with West Alabama at Hurricane Stadium to earn a split for the day and in the four-game weekend series. UWA took Game 1 on Sunday, 11-1, and GSW won Game 2, 10-9 in eight innings.
Freshman Corey Benson collected hits in both games and finished the day 3-for-6 at the plate with a pair of walks and three runs scored to lead the Hurricanes.
GAME 1: WEST ALABAMA 11, GSW 1
West Alabama scored four runs in the first and three more in the second to take a 7-1 lead en route to the 10-run win over GSW in Game 1 on Sunday.
Beau Parker scored the 'Canes lone run when he eventually came around to score on a fielder's choice after leading off the first inning with a walk.
The Hurricanes did not have a batter with multiple hits.
Ladarrius Cole, Brian Simone and Jeremy Rice and two hits apiece for West Alabama. Colin McKeen hit a solo home run. Micah Reaves finished with three RBIs.
Jody Sellars (0-1) took the loss for the Hurricanes, allowing seven runs in one inning of work. He walked three, hit a batter and surrendered five hits.
Jeb Huber (2-0) tossed six innings for UWA to get the win. He allowed one unearned run, walked three and struck out two. Taylor Bratton picked up the three-inning save after holding GSW scoreless. Bratton walked one and struck out one.
GAME 2: GSW 10, WEST ALABAMA 9
The Hurricanes trailed 7-3 through 5 1/2 innings before rallying with three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to send the game to an eighth inning. After West Alabama scored a run in the top half of the eighth, GSW scored two in the bottom of the inning to pick up the come-from-behind victory.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, down by two, Parker hit a chopper down the third base line that bounce over the head of the third baseman and brought in Benson and Andrew Anderson.
A Jeremy Rice triple in the top of the eighth drove in Kevin Deese and gave UWA a 9-8 lead.
Michel Coffey walked to lead off the bottom half of the inning for GSW. Sellars followed with a picture-perfect bunt between the pitcher's mound and first base that could not be handled in time and put two runners on with nobody out. After Heath Lock replaced Sellars at first base, Andrew Archer advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt.
Anderson followed with a double down the left-field line that could only bring in the tying run. After Benson was intentionally walked to load the bases, John Duran was hit by a pitch from Josh Varner to cap the comeback win.
Benson, Sellars and Parker collected two hits apiece for the Hurricanes. Parker added three RBIs.
Cole went 4-for-5 with two runs scored, two RBIs, and two stolen bases to lead UWA (3-4). Simone, McKeen and Deese each added two hits.
Neither starting pitcher played in the decision.
Gray Carden (1-0) pitched the final two innings for GSW to get the win. He struck out four and walked one, allowing two runs.
Varner (0-1) started the eighth and allowed the final two GSW runs to take the loss.
Southwestern (3-5) hosts No. 12 Valdosta State on Wednesday at 5 p.m..