By Staff
Special to The Star
March 27, 2001
MONTGOMERY, Ala. Coming off of a tough loss Sunday at Montevallo, the West Alabama baseball team took to the road Monday for a makeup game with Faulkner University.
Pitching would be the story of this game with the Tigers grabbing their 18th win of the year by the score of 5-3.
West Alabama led 4-0 entering the bottom of the fourth inning, where Faulkner would score two runs to cut the lead in half.
With UWA only leading by one run in the eighth, junior Robbie LaCoste would come on in relief and close the door, retiring all six batters he faced, and picking up his third save of the season.
Michael Friedlein led the UWA hitting attack, going 4-for-4 at the plate and scoring one run.
Scott Merkich picked up a pair of hits and one RBI. Junior Chad Case also added one hit and one RBI while Martin Jackson, Thomas Monk and Carlin Homan had one hit each for the victorious Tigers.
Josh McLaren went six strong innings for the Tigers to pick up the win and move his record to 3-1. McLaren allowed two runs on six hits and struck out five while only walking one.
Reed Adair led the Faulkner charge with two hits and one RBI.
First baseman Matt Ames also picked up one RBI on a sacrifice fly.
Patrick Lantrip went the distance, allowing five runs on 10 hits en route to picking up the loss.
The win moved West Alabama's record to 18-9 overall and 4-2 in Gulf South Conference play. The Tigers return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Georgia College for a 5 p.m. game.