PENSACOLA, Fla. – UWF baseball (21-9, 11-3 GSC) completed the sweep over Alabama Huntsville (14-13, 8-7 GSC) Sunday at Jim Spooner Field, downing the Chargers 9-6. Matthew Estrada finished with a home run, the first of his college career, plus three RBIs. Kirk Maddox earned his third win, and Whitt Davis picked up his second save. The Argos are now tied for first place in the Gulf South Conference with No. 2 Delta State.
Maddox (3-3) allowed just one run over his first six innings of work. The lefty would finish the day with seven strikeouts against three walks. He has now struck out 16 batters over his last two starts at Jim Spooner Field.
"Maddox located his fastball well today. He got us through a lot of those early innings with quick innings," said UWF head coach Mike Jeffcoat. "He made some quality pitches to some good hitters on the Huntsville team and got us going."
The Argos fell behind in the third when Ben Rhodes tagged Maddox for an RBI single. Estrada helped the Argos to regain the lead in the fourth when he sent an opposite-field single to left with the bases loaded vs. UAH starter Riley Camp. The base knock scored Robert Lopez and Jacob Silverstein to make it 2-1 UWF.
UWF scored six times in the sixth to build a more comfortable lead. Mason Dinesen started the scoring with an RBI single to plate Lopez once again. Nick Kerkmann picked up an RBI with a hit-by-pitch in a bases loaded situation before Joey Bend picked up two RBIs on a double and Matt Sullivan picked up two of his own on a single.
UAH fought back in the seventh, tagging Maddox and relief man Chase Evans for five runs on five hits. In the bottom of the eighth, Estrada delivered again. The freshman took relief man Dylan Murphy, who entered the weekend with the most saves in the GSC, for a solo home run to give the Argos a 9-6 advantage.
"Matt Estrada is a true freshman who shows a little bit uncanny poise. He seems to not get rattled. He wants to do well," said Jeffcoat. "He came up with a huge hit with the bases loaded, hitting the opposite way to drive in two. And then of course when they had the big inning to draw it within two, he was able to hit the opposite field home run, his first college career home run."
Whitt Davis retired six of the seven he faced to earn his second save of the season. The loss dropped Camp, who allowed three runs (two earned) over six innings, to 1-1. Dinesen finished with three hits to pace the Argos, who earned the win despite being outhit overall 12-10.
"I was really proud of Whitt Davis coming in there to finish the last two innings. He did an outstanding job," Jeffcoat said.
The Argos will next welcome West Georgia to town in a three-game set scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Friday's doubleheader vs. the Wolves (18-9, 8-6 GSC) will begin at 2:00 p.m.
"We're just glad to get the sweep at home, and we're looking forward to being back at home again next weekend," said Jeffcoat.
For the latest news on the Argos, follow the team on Twitter @UWF_Baseball.
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