FLORENCE, Ala. -- Peyton Sockwell had three hits and drove in five runs in a 12-2 University of North Alabama win over Alabama-Huntsville in the opeing game of a Gulf South Conference double-header at Mike Lane Field. The Chargers rallied for a 4-2 win in the nightcap as Will Myers recorded 15 strikeouts.

With the split, UNA is now 19-14 overall and 12-8 in the GSC. UAH is 15-17 overall and 10-10 in league play.

In the opener, UAH took the early lead as Ben Rhodes hit a solo home run off UNA's Tyler Joyner in the first inning. UNA tied the game in the bottom of the first as Davis Elliott was hit-by-pitch and scored on a Logan Carter RBI-single with two outs.

The Chargers went back on top with a run in the second inning and held the 2-1 lead until UNA pushed six runs across the plate in the third inning. Elliott doubled and later scored on a wild pitch. Drake Tucker and Kyle Hubbuch both reached on errors and Carter walked to load the bases with the game tied. A single by Tate Mathis gave UNA a 3-2 lead and Sockwell dollowed with a towering grand-slam to left to make it 7-2.

North Alabama added three more runs in the fourth inning as Sockwell had an RBI-single, Ben Cooley drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Carter scored on an error.

UNA's final two runs in the sixth came on an RBI-double by Cooley and an RBI-single from Blakey.

Joyner (8-1) got the win for UNA, throwing a complete seven innings in a game shortened by the ten-run rule. He allowed just four hits and struckout three. Riley Camp (3-3) took the loss for UAH, allowing seven runs on six hits over three innings. Only one of the runs was earned.

UAH took a 2-0 lead in the nightcap with two runs in the first inning off UNA starter Lane Wallace. The Lions got a run in the fourth as Elliott single and later scored on an RBI-single by Carter. The Chargers pushed their advantage to 4-1 with two more runs in the top of the fifth on a couple of UNA errors. The Lions got one run back in the bottom of the fifth on a Blakey RBI-single but could get no closer.

Wallace (2-4) took the loss for UNA, allowing four runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts in seven innings on the mound. For UAH, Myers (3-2) struckout the side in the second, third and seventh innings and finished with 15 strikeouts. He allowed just two runs on four hits and walked two.

The Lions and Chargers play the final game of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.


Chris Blakey


Tyler Joyner


Tate Mathis


Lane Wallace


Davis Elliott


Davis Elliott