FLORENCE, Ala. – A Douglas Frazier base hit in the top of the sixth inning, that scored Nick Wheeler, broke a 2-2 deadlock and forced a rubber match finish on Sunday, Apr. 19, as the 10^th-ranked University of West Alabama claimed a 3-2 victory in game two of the doubleheader. UWA (32-11, 11-2) fell 11-5 in the first game with the North Alabama (31-18, 5-6).

The hit was the second of the game for Frazier, a Northport, Ala.-native, and was Wheeler’s second run scored of the evening. Wheeler, a Hokes Bluff, Ala.-product, reached base by walk, his second of the game.

UNA plated a run in the bottom of the first inning, but the Tigers took its first lead of the night cap on a two-run homerun to center field by Brian Simone. Wheeler, who drew a leadoff free pass, scored on the homer. The Lions knotted the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third, as Qualon Millender scored on a Jeffery Ritter sacrifice fly to center field.

Matt Hill (8-2) picked up the win on the mound, hurling 5 1/3 innings with two runs allowed on eight his and three strikeouts and a walk. Brian Burgess claimed his ninth save of the season and is now tied for fourth all-time in saves. Burgess tossed the final 1 2/3 innings in relief, giving up two hits and collecting three strikeouts.

In game one, UWA posted three runs in its first at-bat. Wheeler drove in the first run of the game with a single to score Jeremy Finney. Kevin Deese followed with the third straight base hit of the game for the Tigers, driving in Rob Dahlberg. Wheeler reached home for the final run of the inning, scoring on a Frazier ground out. UNA answered with a single run in the second inning. After the Lions pulled within one in the third inning, Dewayne Gunn put the Purple and Gold up 5-3 with a three-run homerun that scored Trey Pollard and Ritter. UNA went on to sandwich a pair of runs in the sixth and seventh inning between single spots in the fifth and eighth. Dahlberg plated the final two runs of the contest on a two-run homer in the top of the ninth that also scored Finney.

Mike Schmitt (8-2) was saddled with the loss with 5 2/3 innings on the mound, surrendering eight runs on eight hits with four walks and a strikeout. John Ashley tossed 2 1/3 innings in relief, giving up a trio of runs on two hits with three strikeouts and a walk.

Sunday’s rubber match is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Mike Lane Field. The game can be heard over the internet by clicking the UWA Baseball logo at www.MyWin98.com.