MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The University of West Alabama baseball team extended its stay in the NCAA Division II Baseball South Regional with a 14-9 slugfest win over Barry. UWA (38-15) advances to day three as BU concludes the year at 44-11. The Tigers await the loser of Friday’s Southern Arkansas and Lynn contest.

The Red and White opened with contest with seven runs in its first two trips to the plate. BU starter Charley Scott loaded the bases with three straight walks after retiring Jeremy Finney in the top of the first inning. Nick Wheeler then laced a triple to right center to clear the bases and put UWA up 3-0. Wheeler later scored on a wild pitch. After the Bucs got on the board in the home half of the inning, the Tigers totaled three runs in the second inning. Bryan Mason led off with a single and moved to second on a ground out by Dallas Rogers. Finney followed with a triple to right center, scoring Mason and putting the Red and White up 7-1.

The Bucs pulled within a run in the bottom of the third, pushing five runs across the dish. BU’s big blow came on a grand slam by Yan Gomes. Yas Gutierrez closed out the scoring in the inning, crossing the plate on a Chris Leon sacrifice fly to center.

The Tigers answered the five spot with a pair of runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Sam McCormack drove in the two runs in the fourth with a single through the left side to score Kevin Deese and Brian Simone. Finney hit a single in the fifth to score Rogers. Finney later scored on a passed ball for an 11-6 lead.

BU trimmed the lead to 11-8 with a couple of runs in the sixth. The Tigers answered with two in the seventh, as Rob Dahlberg scored on a fielder’s choice. The final run of the inning came on a Wheeler base hit through the left that scored Simone. After BU placed a run on the board in the bottom of the inning, UWA closed out the scoring in the eighth as a Finney doubled down the left field line to plate Rogers.

Tiger starter Matt Hill (10-3) earned the win with 5 1/3 innings on the mound. Hill allowed eight runs on eight hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts. Josh Varner pitched a 1 and 2/3 in relief, allowing a run on four hits as Brian Burgess closed the door with the final two innings on the bump, surrendering one hit.

First pitch of the Tigers’ Saturday affair is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. The game time could be adjusted due to incoming weather in the Magnolia, Ark.-area.