MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Auburn University at Montgomery Warhawks baseball team (4-9, GSC: 1-4) took down the No. 11 West Alabama Tigers (11-1, GSC: 4-1) 12-9 in the first game of Friday's doubleheader behind a clutch homer from Tucker Burns before dropping the second game 6-3. West Alabama was tabbed 11th in the most recent NCBWA coaches poll.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game #1 | AUM 12, UWA 9
The orange and black came out hot, scoring five runs in the first inning, beginning with base hits from Christopher McNeill, Cannon Miller, and a strong RBI single from Luke Turner. As the next batter, Will Passeau launched a double to right center field, plating Miller. Tucker Burns hit a single not long after to score Passeau and put AUM ahead 4-0. Late in the frame, John Kiebler's sacrifice fly scored Burns and extended the Warhawks advantage to 5-0 early in the game.
 
The Tigers were able to score three runs in the third inning behind a pair of hits, two walks, and a sacrifice fly.
 
A sacrifice bunt helped a West Alabama reach third base in the top of the fourth inning before scoring on a ground out on the next at-bat, cutting AUM's lead to 5-4.
 
The visitors took the lead in the top of the sixth inning with four runs, however, the Warhawks added one back in the bottom of the frame to hold the Tiger's to an 8-6 lead after six innings.
 
Kurt Kizer's seventh inning double helped AUM tie up the score at eight runs apiece, setting the stage for an intense eighth frame.
 
West Alabama took a one-run lead in the top, putting the pressure on the Warhawks late in the game.
 
Chance Sweeny led off with a walk before McNeill took his place on a fielders choice. Miller drew a walk not long after and Turner singled to load the bases. Passeau's sacrifice fly plated McNeill and tied up the score. With two runners on base, Burns stepped up to the plate and launched a three-run bomb over the left center field wall. This gave the Warhawks a 12-9 lead.
 
AUM's defense held the Tigers scoreless in the top of the ninth, handing West Alabama its first loss of the season and securing a 12-9 victory for AUM. 
 
Game #1 Notables

• Tucker Burns led AUM offensively with three hits on four at-bats, including his go-ahead three run homer in the eighth inning.
• Luke Turner recorded two hits on three at-bats while adding three runs, an RBI, and a walk.
• Will Passeau notched two hits, two runs, and two RBI.
• Kurt Kizer totaled two hits on three at-bats, with an RBI.
• Kobe Wiggins improves to 2-0 after tossing 2.1 innings of work, striking out one, and allowing just two hits and no earned runs.

 
Game #2 | UWA 6, AUM 3
Three consecutive singles for the Tigers in the top of the first inning set West Alabama up with an early 1-0 advantage.
 
The Warhawks evened it up in the bottom of the frame behind Brice Ainsworth's leadoff longball.
 
An unearned run for the Tigers gave them back the lead in the top of the third inning, however, McNeill's trip around the diamond evened the score at 2-2 after three frames.
 
With neither side adding any runs over the next three innings, the score stayed even heading into the seventh.
 
A two-run homer from UWA's Hayes Alford gave the Tigers the advantage and Will Wood's two-RBI single made it 6-2.
 
Despite Camden Suggs' solo shot to lead off the bottom of the final frame, West Alabama would even the series with a 6-3 win in game two.

Game #2 Notables

• Brice Ainsworth homered in the first frame as his first of his career.
• Camden Suggs recorded his first home run as a Warhawk in the eighth inning.
• Five Warhawks tallied at least one hit.

UP NEXT
The Warhawks will complete their series against West Alabama with game three set for Saturday, February 21 with a 5 p.m. first pitch.
 
 
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