OXFORD, Ala. -- The 26th-ranked Auburn University at Montgomery baseball team used a four-run second inning to take an early lead, but the University of West Florida scored 13 runs through the game's first four innings to force the Warhawks into the loser's bracket on Saturday at the Gulf South Conference tournament.

FROM THE DUGOUT

Score: No. 26 AUM 7, UWF 13
Records: AUM 31-21 | UWF 30-21
Location: Oxford, Ala. | Choccolocco Park
Series: AUM trails 33-26
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HIGHLIGHTS

• AUM found an early lead for the second straight day, as Cooper Doughman collected an RBI single up the middle with two outs.
• West Florida answered with a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the first to take a 3-1 lead.
• The Warhawks struck for four runs in the visitor's second inning to swipe the lead back. Ashton Thomas clubbed an RBI double, Tyrese Rooks sliced an RBI single to left, and Kasey Clark drilled a two-run single up the middle to help AUM build a 5-3 lead.
• The carousel continued in the bottom of the second, as the Argos used a grand slam to plate five runs and take the lead back 8-5.
• Ashton Thomas lofted a two-run homer over the right field wall in the fifth frame to cut into the UWF advantage, but that was all the offense the AUM could muster on the afternoon.

ON THE MOUND 

• Payte Williams (4-5) drew the start and worked two and two-thirds innings for AUM. He allowed 11 hits and walked four with one strikeout. 
• Michael Myers spun an inning and a third of relief and allowed three hits with one strikeout.
• Carson Beach fired 2.1 innings of scoreless relief with one hit and one walk allowed along with one strikeout.
• Trey Bacon tossed 1.2 shutout innings with two strikeouts to finish the game for the Warhawks.

NOTABLES

• Kasey Clark extended his team-leading on-base streak to 24 games, while Doughman extended his current streak to 19 games.
• Clark also registered his team-leading 12th game of the season with multiple RBIs and added his 12th game with multiple hits.
• Rooks tallied his team-high 22nd game with multiple hits, while Dew posted his 20th. Thomas (7th), Doughman (14th), and Wright (15th) also had multiple hits.
• Thomas finished a triple shy of the cycle, as he turned in a single, a double, and a two-run home run.

MANAGER'S CORNER

• "Not our standard," said head coach Franklin Bush. "Fell into a pattern of noncompetitive pitches. The opportunity to compete for a championship doesn't come from giving away nine free bases throughout the game. The good news is, we are back at it tomorrow. Have to learn from it and get back to AUM baseball."

UP NEXT

• The Warhawks look to stave off elimination on Sunday, May 5 at 10 a.m. at Choccolocco Park against the winner of the Montevallo-West Georgia game.

 
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