LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The 19^th-ranked University of West Alabama baseball drew a split with in-state foe North Alabama on Saturday at Tartt Field. The Tigers (36-9, 9-5 Gulf South Conference) opened the doubleheader with a 4-3 win, but fell in the nightcap 8-6 to the Lions (26-18, 6-8 GSC).

After leading 2-0 through five innings in the opening contest, UWA found itself down 3-2 after the top of the sixth inning. UWA knotted the contest at 3-3 in the bottom half of the inning, as a Todd Rea single to right field scored Jeremy Finney, who led off the inning with a single.

The Red and White kept UNA at bay over its next three trips to the plate. With the bases loaded, Jake DeRoy garnered his second hit of the contest, with a single down the right field line to score Nick Wheeler, who led off with a single back up the middle.

Brian Burgess (2-0) threw three innings in relief to get the win, allowing just three hits in the contest.

In game two, Chris Ransburgh gave UWA its first lead of the contest, as he singled up the middle to score Matt Busbee and Wheeler, giving the Tigers a 3-2 advantage. The Red and White added two more in the fifth inning on a Wheeler homerun, his 12^th of the season, to left field, plating Tres Avans.

UNA narrowed the deficit to 5-3 in the sixth inning before erupting with five runs in the seventh to regain the lead at 8-5. The Tigers tried to rally in the bottom of the inning. Busbee and Rea eached reached by way of walks and moved up a base on a wild pitch. A Ransburgh walk one batter later, loaded the bases with two away in the contest. DeRoy would become the fourth Tiger to reach base on a walk in the inning, as he pushed Busbee across the dish, but that would be all for UWA in the inning.

Adam Patterson (1-2) received the loss in the contest, allowing two runs on two hits without recording an out.

West Alabama and North Alabama return to the diamond on Sunday, April 20, in the rubber match of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. UWA will also honor its 10 seniors with a ceremony beginning at 12:50 p.m. The game can be found on Y-104.9-FM and athletics.uwa.edu.