West Alabama snatches pair of wins at home

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
March 9, 2003
LIVINGSTON University of West Alabama junior baseball player Robby Reed lasted little time to give his team an update on how his wrist is healing.
The junior college transfer, who missed the start of the season because of a broken wrist, cranked the first pitch he saw in the Tigers' game against Ouachita Baptist University over the left-field wall for a two-run home run in the opening inning on Saturday.
Reed's two-run blast proved to be the difference in the first game of a double-header against OBU (0-9), as UWA (11-10) tallied a 4-2 victory at Tartt Field.
UWA junior pitcher Michael Riggs (2-0) picked up the win over OBU allowing two runs, one earned, in six innings of work, with four strike outs.
The junior right hander's day didn't start out on the best foot.
Riggs gave up a lead off single to OBU left fielder Douglas Riley and issued a walked to OBU second baseman Heath Bays to start the game.
Rundles made his way out of the dug out to calm down his pitcher.
Riggs focused in on the mound after the chat with is coach and got out of the top of the first without giving up a run.
The UWA pitcher struck out the third batter he faced and induced OBU center fielder Jeff McCoart into a double play.
Riggs flirted with danger through out the first game of the double header.
After giving up a run in the third inning, Riggs induced a fly out and a fielder's choice hit to get out of the inning to keep a 2-1 UWA advantage.
Riggs allowed one runner to reach base over the last four innings, but only gave up one more run in the contest.
UWA took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning off a bloop single to right field by left fielder Thomas Monk.
Monk's single drove home second baseman Brooks Tinsley for the three-run lead.
UWA first baseman Freddie Vazquez tallied the team's final run of the day hitting a solo home run over the left-field wall to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning.
In the second game of the day, UWA defeated OBU 3-2.
UWA sophomore starting pitcher Josh Allums didn't figure into the decision after he held OBU to two runs on two hits in six innings of work.
Clay Armstrong (2-2) picked up the win, allowing no runs on one hit over one inning of work.
Scott Needs paced the UWA charge in game two, going 1-for-1 with a double and one RBI. Hayden also added a double, while Brandon McGarity, Rafael Farrell and LeWayne Allen contributed one hit apiece. Vazquez picked up the game-winning RBI on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the seventh.
Bryan Jones picked up a double and one RBI to lead OBU, and Orman added one hit and one RBI.
West Alabama returns to action on Sunday when the same two teams meet in a double-header scheduled for 1 p.m.