PENSACOLA, Fla. — West Florida secured a decisive 12–2 victory over the University of Alabama in Huntsville on Saturday at Jim Spooner Field in the first game of a doubleheader. A seven-run sixth inning propelled West Florida to its dominant run-rule win.
Game 1
West Florida took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Zack Stokes was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a walk for
Alex Urias,
Gustavo Mendez moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.
Tyler Brobst then delivered a single up the middle, driving in Stokes and Urias, putting the Argos up 2-1.
In the second inning, the Argos extended their lead.
Gann Nobles and
Greg Pettay drew consecutive walks, followed by another walk to
Tanner Taylor to load the bases. Stokes hit a sacrifice fly to center, allowing Pettay to score and make it 3–1.
The third inning saw West Florida adding another run.
Jay Henderson reached on a bunt single and advanced to third on a throwing error.
William Lybrook's single moved Henderson to third, and Nobles grounded out to first, allowing Henderson to score. In the fourth inning, UAH scored on a double play, narrowing the gap to 4–2.
The Argos broke the game open in the sixth inning. Pettay singled, and Taylor walked.
Zack DeJesus then singled to load the bases, and Taylor scored on a fielder's choice. A bases-loaded walk to Mendez brought in another run. Lybrook's single added another, followed by a hit-by-pitch to Nobles, scoring another. Pettay's two-RBI single made it a seven-run inning, bringing the score to 11–2.
The home team added its final run in the seventh. DeJesus singled and later scored on a fielding error by the second baseman, making it 12–2.
Tucker Ricks delivered a complete game, pitching 7 innings while allowing 10 hits and 2 runs, with only 1 earned run. He threw 91 pitches, 66 of which were strikes, demonstrating control with just 1 walk and striking out 7 batters. His performance marked his fourth win of the season, improving to a record of 4-1.
Game 2
In the second game of the doubleheader, the University of West Florida fell to the University of Alabama in Huntsville with a final score of 10–4.
Alabama Huntsville jumped to an early lead in the first inning, scoring four runs on five hits. In the second inning, Alabama Huntsville added another run that scored on a double play.
West Florida responded in the fifth inning with a rally. Jed Jones singled, followed by
Trent Kelly getting hit by a pitch.
Zack Stokes then delivered an RBI single, and
Zack DeJesus hit a two-RBI triple.
Gustavo Mendez capped the inning with an RBI single, cutting the deficit to 8–4.
The Chargers added two runs in the sixth inning and extended the lead to 10–4.
Elijah Roberts opened on the mound for West Florida, pitching 2/3 inning while allowing four earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
Christian Pencek followed, surrendering four runs, with one earned, over 1.2 innings, allowing two hits and recording three groundouts.
Eli Lamb contributed 1.2 innings, yielding three hits without allowing a run and inducing three flyouts.
Michael Vice pitched an inning, striking out one and allowing one earned run on no hits.
Micky Scheetz closed, pitching two innings with three hits and one earned run, while striking out two.
Up next for West Florida is a matchup against Georgia Southwestern State University at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 at Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola, Florida.
