UWA baseball advances to third round of GSC tournament
Published 2:31 pm Friday, May 3, 2013
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – A two run double by West Alabama junior centerfielder Jocobby Robinson, along with a throwing error by West Georgia on the ensuing play in the bottom of the seventh inning, gave the Tigers a 4-3 come from behind victory in the second round of the Gulf South Conference Tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn. on Friday.
“I probably have never been any more proud of our team than I am today,” said UWA head coach Gary Rundles. “Even though we got down early our mentality never changed and we stayed consistent and did what we had to do. We had an opportunity late in the game and took advantage of it. That’s what teams that advance do.”
West Alabama has now defeated the same two teams that eliminated them from last year’s conference tournament to improve to 23-28 on the season. West Georgia will now fall into the loser’s bracket of the tournament with a 25-23 overall record.
Robinson was one of six UWA batters to claim hits against the Wolves. Robinson finished 1-for-2 with two RBI. Trey Dickson led West Georgia at the plate finishing 2-for-4 with a RBI.
Starting West Alabama senior pitcher Nick Bolleter (5-4) allowed three runs and tallied four strikeouts through seven innings to get the win. Randall Wright (3-5) entered for the Wolves in the seventh inning to take the loss on the mound.
Fellow senior Brett Ivey took over for Bolleter in the eighth inning to allow only one hit and claim his second save of the season.
West Alabama will remain in the winner’s bracket and will wait to face the winner of Valdosta State and Delta State game. The Tigers will play the winner on Saturday at Noon (C.S.T).
West Georgia will face the winner of North Alabama and Christian Brothers on Saturday at 9 am (C.S.T.)
“Whoever we play tomorrow is obviously going to be a quality opponent,” said Rundles. “How we do will begin on the mound, but we’ll also need to get some timely hitting.”