Saturday, February 16, 2002
BLUE HOSE BASEBALL SWEEPS WEST ALABAMA TODAY
Livingston,
AL— Following an
exciting single game on Friday, the University of West Alabama
baseball team returned to Tartt Field on Saturday for a
doubleheader with the Blue Hose of Presbyterian College. This
time it would be the road team making all of the noise, as
Presbyterian used 31 hits on its way to 8-5 and 14-5 wins.
After
falling behind 3-0 early in game one, UWA used a three-run
round tripper from shortstop Freddie Vazquez to take
the lead in the bottom of the fifth. However, the Blue Hose
would score five unanswered runs en route to the victory. Game
two would see the Presbyterian offense explode, pounding out
19 hits and 14 runs. The sweep moved PC’s record to 5-6 on
the season.
Vazquez
led the charge in game one, going 1-for-4 with three RBI and
one run scored. Chad Case and Walt Simmons added
a solo homer apiece while teammates Carlin Homan and Rob
McInturf contributed one hit and one run scored each. Justin
Maddox came on in relief of starter Chad Champion,
and lasted four innings, allowing five runs on six hits en
route to picking up the loss.
Kevin White paced the Blue Hose offensive attack, going 2-for-3 with three RBI. Kurt Hitzeman went the distance on the mound, allowing five earned runs on five hits en route to picking up the win.
Presbyterian
wasted no time in game two, scoring three runs in the first
inning. The Blue Hose kept rolling on their way to posting 14
runs in the game’s first five frames. White led the way
again, going 4-for-5 with four runs scored and three RBI. A
trio of Blue Hose pitchers limited the Tigers to five runs on
seven hits. Mark Dudley went five strong innings,
allowing four runs on four hits on his way to picking up the
win.
Scott
Merkich broke out of an early season slump by going
2-for-4, including a pair of solo home runs and three runs
scored. Walt Simmons and Brodie Meadows also
contributed one RBI apiece for UWA. Chris Gulledge drew
the start on the hill, allowing six runs on nine hits on his
way to picking up his first loss of the season.
The Blue Hose return to action on Sunday for the final game of a four-game set with Tigers. Game time is set for 12:00 p.m.