POST-GAME NOTES

CLEVELAND, Miss. – A strong performance on the mound from Walker O'Connor, Matt Sullivan's first two career home runs, and a Ladeavon Matthews walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10^th inning all highlighted a wild 3-2 extra-inning victory over West Alabama in the second game of the GSC Tournament on Monday night
 
"Obviously Sully (Matt Sullivan) had the two big hits, and the senior Walker O'Connor stepped up today," said head coach Mike Jeffcoat. "He was just outstanding through eight innings, and he was probably a little tired there in the ninth, but (Jared) Middleton came in to get us out of a jam and (Steve) McClellan came in to get us a big out."
 
Sullivan got UWF on the scoreboard first, taking a Cole Waites fastball and launching a no-doubt solo shot that flew over the left field wall for the first home run of his career in the bottom of the second to give UWF a 1-0 lead.
 
The very next pitch Sullivan saw was another fastball, and the sophomore ripped another solo home run – this time to the opposite field –  in the top of the fourth. Sullivan's two-homer effort is UWF's second of the season.
 
Sullivan's power performance complimented a gem thrown by senior Walker O'Connor, who posted eight shutout innings with just four hits allowed to start his outing.  
 
O'Connor ran into some trouble in the ninth, as UWA scored a pair of runs to tie the game at 2-2. O'Connor finished his outing with a career-high 8.1 innings pitched, allowing a pair of earned runs while scattering seven hits. O'Connor posted an impressive seven strikeouts while not allowing a walk in what was likely the final pitching performance of his collegiate career.
 
Jared Middleton and Steve McClellan picked up O'Connor in impressive fashion by combining for 1.2 innings of hitless relief to finish the ballgame.
 
Middleton came on with one away in the ninth and worked around walking the first batter he faced. Middleton then struck out the following batter and induced a fly out to get out of a two-man-on, one-out jam.
 
McClellan came on with runners at the corners and two outs and recorded the biggest out of the ballgame, striking out Tiger third baseman Marcus Morrisette on a 1-2 fastball.
 
McClellan's strikeout helped set up the bottom of the 10^th, and after a Chase Kiefer lead-off walk, the Argos used a stolen base and a Brandon Harmon sacrifice bunt to move him over to third. Matthews converted on the walk-off opportunity, lining the first pitch he saw to left field to bring home Kiefer for a walk-off sacrifice fly.
 
With North Alabama winning its morning contest against Mississippi College, UWF is officially eliminated from reaching the GSC Tournament Championship. However, UWF will finish its 2017 season tomorrow with its final game of GSC Tournament pool play. First pitch between the Argos and Mississippi College is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. at Ferris Field in Cleveland, Mississippi.