OXFORD, Ala. – Dean Hotz blasted a grand slam in the sixth inning to break open a close ball game as No. 17 UWF defeated Lee, 11-2, in an elimination game of the Gulf South Conference Championship at Choccolocco Park Monday.
 
UWF (35-15) advances to the final day of the GSC Championship on Tuesday morning. Depending on the outcome of the Delta State-Valdosta State game on Monday afternoon, the Argonauts will have to defeat the Blazers twice or defeat the Statesmen and the Blazers to win the title. The first game is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
 
The Argos pounded out 13 hits, had four extra-base hits and scored 10 runs with two outs as they advanced to the final day of the league tourney for the seventh time in the last 15 events.
 
"Our guys were in a groove swinging the bats and now is when the pitching depth comes into play when you're in the losers bracket," UWF head coach Mike Jeffcoat said. "Parker (Wakeman) was making just his second start of the year and had a great start to get us out of the gates, and then Jacob Heath out of the bullpen, throwing four innings of shutout ball.
 
"This is what it's about in the postseason and you've got to fill the strike zone up. Walks will kill you and we took advantage of some 2-out walks on their end, and our 2-out hitting was incredible today."
 
Wakeman was solid on the mound for UWF, striking out five in four-plus innings of a no decision as he held the Flames to two runs and just two hits. Heath came on in the fifth and struck out three while allowing just two hits to improve to 3-3.
 
Hotz led the Argo attack with three hits, which included a double to go with his slam and a pair of runs. Jackson Grabsky was one of four players with two hits as he extended his hitting streak to 12 games – tying his best from earlier in the season. Trent Jeffcoat drove in a pair with two base knocks and moved his hitting streak to seven.
 
The game got off to what looked like a good start for UWF, as the Argos loaded the bases with no outs. But a pair of groundouts to third resulted in a force out at home and a double play to end the threat.
 
UWF atoned for that an inning later with two runs. Grabsky scored on a wild pitch and Jeffcoat lined one back up the middle to score True Fontenot for a 2-0 lead.
 
Lee scratched a run across in the third when Luke Hughes scored on a bases loaded wild pitch before Wakeman got out of the threat getting Brandon Daniels to strike out.
 
The Argos got the run back in the top of the fourth when Josh Prizina scored on a Jeffcoat groundout, with the UWF shortstop racing down the line to beat out the would-be inning-ending double play.
 
Lee answered in the fifth when Dylan Standifer drove in Josiah Miller on a 2-out single.
 
UWF broke the game open with a 5-run sixth inning. Darrien McDowell drew a bases-loaded walk before Hotz hit his second homer of the year.
 
Prizina doubled inside the third base bag in the seventh that scored Jadon Fryman to add to the lead, 9-2. Tyler Dowdy added a pinch-hit 2-run double in the ninth to account for the end of the scoring.
 
UWF executed the fundamentals all game long, including putting down three sacrifice bunts for the second-consecutive day.
 
Lee (28-25) finished with just four hits, as Standifer produced three by himself. Starter Greyson Linderman (3-4) allowed two runs on five hits in just two innings while taking the loss.