MILLINGTON, Tenn. – The University of West Alabama baseball team won its first Gulf South Conference Championship since 1992 on Wednesday, as the Tigers defeated North Alabama (39-19) by the score of 9-4 in game two after falling 7-6 (11 innings) in game one.

Game one was tied at 6-6 until North Alabama scored a run in the bottom of the 11th inning to force another game to decide the 2005 GSC Champion. Matt Chambless (3-2) took the loss for the Tigers, allowing two earned runs on six hits in 3.1 innings. Brian Jenkins (10-4) allowed no runs and one hit in three innings to pick up the win for the Lions.

Brandon Boles went 4-for-5 with two doubles for the Tigers in game one. Seth Lofton had two hits with one RBI, while Kelvin Ayala added one hit, two RBI and a stolen base. Roberto Martinez and James Guilliams each had one hit and one RBI for West Alabama. Dustin Roberts, Jonathan Lindsey and Damon Brabson added one hit each for UWA.

Mike Klug went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a stolen base for the Lions in game one. James Barksdale had a triple, two RBI and a stolen base, while D.J. Stacey added two hits and one RBI.

In game two, the Lions jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the Tigers exploded with five runs in the bottom of the third inning. North Alabama cut the lead to 5-4 with two runs in the top of the fifth, however UWA was able to score four unanswered runs for the 9-4 victory.

Matthew Creighton (6-2) allowed no runs and two hits in 4.1 innings of work to pick up the win for UWA. Jenkins (10-5) took the loss for UNA, allowing five earned runs on seven hits in 2.2 innings.

Roberts went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and three runs scored for UWA in game two. Lewis Bradford had a double and three RBI, while Jacob Townsend added two hits and two RBI. Brabson and Ayala had two hits and one stolen base each with Roy McDaniel adding one hit and a stolen base. Lofton went 1-for-4 with one RBI, while Guilliams added one hit and two RBI.

Jenkins went 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Lions in game two. Klug had one hit and one RBI, while Barksdale and Steven Agee scored one run each.

UWA’s Boles, Roberts and Jason Herman were named to the All-Tournament Team. The Tigers move to 45-17 on the season and now wait to see if they receive a bid to the NCAA South Central Regional.

–

Jason Hughes