MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team (1-0) started off its 2012 campaign with a 4-3 win in 10 innings over the Montevallo Falcons (0-1) in the season opener for both squads Thursday afternoon at Kermit A. Johnson Field. The win snaps a two-game losing streak for UAH when facing Montevallo on the road.
The Chargers escaped an early jam in the second inning when with runners on first and third, sophomore pitcher Drew Eiland plunked a batter to load the bases. The very next batter, with just one out, reached on a fielder's choice to third base as senior Eric Deese threw out the runner at home. With the bases still loaded, Eiland was able to get the next batter to fly out to left center field to end the threat.
UAH had a chance to take the early lead in the top of the third inning with senior Jon McKinney on third base with two outs, but Deese grounded out to shortstop to put the Chargers back in the field.
In the fifth inning, after leadoff back-to-back singles by sophomore Justin Riddle and senior Mike Love, McKinney laid down a sacrifice bunt to move them into scoring position. Junior Justin Pearson started off the scoring for UAH in 2012 by lacing a single through the left side, bringing in Riddle and moving Love to third. Love then crossed the plate on a deep sacrifice fly by freshman Chandler Brock.
The Chargers clung to the 2-0 lead until a two-run home run with two outs by Montevallo's Heath Peterson knotted the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning.
In the 10th inning, senior Ty Chancelor hammered a two-run homer over the left center field wall to put UAH back on top, 4-2. Chancelor's home run was the first of the year for the Chargers and the fourth of his career.
Montevallo looked to answer in the 10th, plating one run off a double down the right field line to make the score 4-3. However, with two outs notched already, the Falcons' next batter struck out looking to end the game.
Eiland started the game on the hill for the Chargers and looked solid for most of the game before allowing the two-run home run that tied things up in the eighth inning. Eiland worked 7.2 innings, fanning five and walking two. Following a leadoff single in the sixth, Eiland retired seven straight batters until allowing a walk which then was followed by the two-out home run.
Junior Cody Barrett picked up the victory for UAH, sitting down six batters on strikes in just 2.1 innings of work to seal the victory. Montevallo's Wes Rich worked 2.1 innings while picking up the loss, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out just one batter.
UAH continues its three-game series with Montevallo on Saturday afternoon in a doubleheader with the first game set for first pitch to cross the plate at noon CST. Game two will follow shortly after though both games are subject to change depending on weather conditions.
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