FLORENCE, Ala. – The Auburn Montgomery baseball team held host North Alabama at bay for the majority of a non-conference contest on Tuesday evening, but a five-run frame for the Lions proved to be the difference in a 7-5 setback for the Warhawks.
NOTES
• AUM falls to 17-25 overall.
• North Alabama improves to 30-12.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Senior center fielder
Donovan Chandler went 2-3 in the batter's box with two doubles, two runs scored, two walks and one RBI.
• Going into the contest with only one stolen base on the season, junior left fielder
Matthew Zielonko stole two while going 2-3 with a run scored and walk.
• Senior first baseman
Curtiss Johnson went 1-3 with two RBI and a walk.
• Junior righty
Josh Flowers tossed a personal-best 5.1 innings in the start, allowing one run off four hits with eight walks and three strikeouts.
• For North Alabama, Brandt Holland went 2-4 with a run scored and two RBI while Tate Mathis hit a home run.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Leading off the bottom of the first with a walk, T.J. Lockett scored the opening run of the contest off an AUM wild pitch.
• Loading the bases off a pair of walks and a hit by pitch, AUM took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third off a one-out single from Johnson, sending Chandler and senior shortstop
Nathan Langley home.
• AUM capitalized on an UNA error in the top of the fourth which allowed junior right fielder
Aaron Hill to reach base, sending the Warhawk home off a two-out double from Chandler to create a 3-1 lead.
• The Warhawks increased their lead in the top of the fifth, getting Zielonko on base via a walk before a two-out single from junior third baseman
Jonathan Brandt sent the junior home to make it 4-1.
• North Alabama reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases off three-consecutive walks with a double and home run in back-to-back at bats propelling the Lions to a 6-4 advantage.
• AUM cut into the separation in the top of the eighth off a two-out single from junior second baseman
Logan Nix, platting Chandler who reached base via a double to make it 6-5.
• The Lions responded to AUM's run with one of their own in the bottom of the eighth, using a two-out double from Peyton Thomas to send Mathis home and extend the separation to 7-5.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Both sides had eight hits.
• AUM left 12 runners on base, North Alabama stranded 11.
• North Alabama recorded the lone error.
UP NEXT
The Warhawks return to the AUM Baseball Complex on Wednesday, April 18 to host No. 20 Columbus State. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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