HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The third-ranked University of West Alabama baseball team began Gulf South Conference play with an 11-2 win over the University of Alabama in Huntsville on Saturday evening at Joe Davis Stadium. The 11 runs marked the 12^th time season that UWA has scored double figures in a contest.

Mike Schmitt improved to 6-0 on the season with seven innings pitched, allowing two runs on 10 hits.

Three singles, a walk and a triple by the Diamond Tigers in the first inning started the contest off, as UWA placed five runs on the board in its first at bat in the contest. Jake DeRoy and Jeremy Finney singled to left field, as Rob Dahlberg walked to load the bases for Tres Avans. Avans singled to left to plate DeRoy and Finney. Matt Busbee followed with a triple to right center to score Dahlberg and Avans, before scoring on a Nick Wheeler ground out to first base.

The Red and White added one each in the third and fourth innings. Busbee, who hit a one out single to center and moved to third on a Todd Rea single to right field, crossed the dish in the third inning, as he score on a fielder’s choice by Wheeler that erased Todd Rea. The Tigers run in the fourth came as Busbee singled to right field to score Finney and give UWA a 7-0 lead.

UWA tallied two runs in the sixth and again in the ninth. Finney and Dahlberg scored on back-to-back, bases loaded walks in the sixth inning. Finney hit a deep fly to center field for the second out of the ninth inning, but pushed Brent Bumgarner across the dish. Dahlberg followed with a double to right center to score DeRoy to wrap up the scoring for the Tigers in the contest.

UAH plated a run in the sixth and seventh for its two runs of the outing.

West Alabama returns to action on Sunday, March 16, as the Tigers will face UAH in a doubleheader at Joe Davis Stadium. First pitch of the twinbill is scheduled for 12 p.m. The game will be carried on Y-104.9-FM and at athletics.uwa.edu.