West Alabama runs wild over OBU

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
March 10, 2003
LIVINGSTON, Ala. The University of West Alabama baseball team came out roaring in the final two games of a four-game series against the Ouachita Baptist University Tigers on Sunday.
The UWA Tigers (13-10) roughed up OBU (0-11) in a double-header at Tartt Field 8-4 in the first game and 16-2 in the second game.
The double-header on the sun soaked Sunday afternoon didn't get off to the best of starts for UWA.
OBU tallied three runs off of two hits in the opening inning of the first game, as UWA senior starting pitcher Jason Clark (2-0) struggled on the mound.
Clark issued a walk to OBU lead off hitter Douglas Riley to start the day, and a wild pitch and two ground outs to UWA second baseman Rafael Farrell brought Riley home.
OBU tacked two more runs on the score board on wild pitches from Clark for a 3-0 lead after the first half inning.
Clark settled in on the mound giving up two more hits the rest of the game, while recording four strike outs, for his second win of the season.
The UWA offense followed the lead of its senior hurler.
UWA squandered a chance to get right back into the game in the bottom of the first inning.
The Tigers from Alabama loaded the bases with two outs, but they failed to push a runner across home plate.
UWA picked up one run in the bottom of the second inning off a RBI double from lead off hitter A.J. Ray, but the home team really found its offensive groove in the fourth inning.
UWA first baseman Jonathan Lindsey led off the fourth hitting a triple over OBU center fielder Derrick Flowers' head.
Vazquez, who replaced UWA starting third baseman Stephen Waggener in the top of the fourth after being cut on his shin on a play at third, hit an infield single in his first at bat to bring Lindsey home cutting UWA's deficit to 3-2.
UWA left fielder Thomas Monk reached base in the next at bat by getting hit by a pitch, and right fielder LeWayne Allen loaded the bases with a textbook bunt down the third-base line.
Ray put the final touches on the rally smacking a double off the left-field wall to clear the base and hand UWA a 5-3 lead. The UWA Tigers' lead off hitter finished the first game going 2-for-4 for with four RBIs, and he picked up two more RBIs in the second game.
UWA shortstop Scott Needs tallied the final run of the fourth inning driving in Ray with a double to the left-center field gap for a 6-3 advantage.
UWA kept the momentum in its favor in the second game.
OBU again took an early lead in the first inning, scoring one run, but UWA didn't wait until the fourth to get its offense rolling.
UWA rallied for two runs, after tying the score at one, following an error by OBU shortstop Travis Jackson.
Jackson let a grounder hit by UWA second baseman Brooks Tinsley slip right under his glove allowing Needs to score from third.
UWA posted another run on a RBI single to left field by catcher Randal Minton for a 3-1 lead.
UWA put the final touches on its second game domination in the second inning scoring nine runs on five hits and two OBU errors to take a 12-1 lead.
Vazquez highlighted the nine-run second inning powering a curve ball over the left field wall for a grand slam home run.
The third baseman's first career grand slam gave UWA a 9-1 lead.
UWA finished the game knocking in one run in the third inning and three runs in the fifth inning.
UWA freshman pitcher Shane Martin (2-0) recorded the win allowing two runs on four hits, with six strike outs, in four innings of work.
UWA's Brad Rooker and Justin Maddox finished the game combining to allow no runs on two hits, with four strike outs.
UWA continues its season facing some stiff competition, following the sweep.
The Tigers host Abilene Christian at 4 p.m. today, and the team welcomes Kennesaw State to Tarrt Field at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.