LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The Georgia Southwestern baseball team was held to two runs and eight hits over the first two games of a weekend series at the University of West Alabama. GSW lost 6-2 on Friday evening and suffered a 6-0 setback on Saturday at Tartt Field.
Following Saturday's defeat GSW's record fell to 2-3 while West Alabama improved to 5-1.
The three-game series comes to a close on Sunday at 2 p.m.
FRIDAY: WEST ALABAMA 6, GSW 2
The Tigers broke open a 1-1 game by scoring four runs in the fourth inning.
Josh Sanders had tied the contest at 1-1 in the top half of the inning when he led off the frame for GSW with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Les Cromer and eventually scored on a UWA throwing error.
The Tigers added another run in the seventh to make it a 6-1 game and GSW rounded out the scoring in the ninth when Neal Chambless singled to right field to score Cromer.
Lance Shelton (1-1) took the loss for the Hurrianes after pitching four innings and allowing four earned runs on nine hits. He walked three and struck out three. Justin Barnes held UWA to one run over three innings of relief and Myles Gay tossed a scoreless eighth.
UWA starter Taylor Bratton threw six innings of one-hit, one-run ball. The Tigers used three relief pitchers to cover the final three frames.
The Tigers' Trey Williamon led all batters with a 3-for-4 performance. UWA had four additional players finish with two hits apiece.
SATURDAY: WEST ALABAMA 6, GSW 0
The Hurricanes were shut out for the first time this season.
Josh Sanders and Stephen Eldridge collected two of GSW's five hits in the game in the first inning.
West Alabama scored, what would prove to be the game-winning run, in the third inning aided by a throwing error and a wild pitch. The Tigers added a run in the fourth and four more in the seventh.
Eldridge was the only GSW batter to finish with multiple hits (2) in the game.
Jocobby Robinson led UWA with a 3-for-4 afternoon at the plate. Tyler Richburg, Tanner Rainey and Jack Cockrum finished with two hits apiece.
Zac Whittmus (0-1) started on the mound for the Hurricanes. Whittmus pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowed five runs and nine hits while striking out three. Dylan Brown and Earl Dupree covered the final 1 2/3 innings for GSW.
Starter Zach Parks (1-1) threw seven scoreless innings for the Tigers. Caleb Derouen and Rainey closed out the contest for UWA.