TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Tennessee Southern baseball team played game one of the weekend series recording a win of 20-5 over Stillman on Thursday. Both squads agreed to expand the two-day series to accommodate an unfavorable forecast on Friday and Saturday. The teams will face off again on Sunday for the final seven and nine inning games.  

UT Southern (5-14, 2-5) took the early lead scoring in every inning but the sixth. In the opening inning, Rhett Birdsong scored on a throwing error. Kevin McCarthy singled to right scoring Blake Birdsong. UTS led 2-0 after one.

In the second, R. Birdsong would draw a free pass pushing Grayson Willis across the plate. B. Birdsong hit a sacrifice fly to left scoring Devin Buckhalter. Chandler Jordan singled to score Noah Junker. McCarthy launched a three-run bomb scoring Jordan and R. Birdsong. Stillman (8-10, 3-7) would clear the bases and score three in the inning. UTS led 8-3 after two.

In the third, Willis stole home. Gabe Sibert singled to center scoring Buckhalter. The Tigers scored another pair in the bottom half. UTS led 10-5 after three.

The Firehawks would score seven in the fourth. Junker got things started when he reached on an error allowing Willis to score. Sibert's single would plate Junker. Jordan would single driving in both Sibert and R. Birdsong. McCarthy singled through the infield driving in B. Birdsong. The Firehawks led 17-5 after four.

In the fifth, R. Birdsong hit a sacrifice fly to score Willis. Sibert singled to left scoring Buckhalter. B. Birdsong singled to right scoring Junker. UTS led 20-5 after five.

In the seventh, Buckhalter left the park in left center. Stillman would get one back to the final score of 21-6.

Tray Lacy got the start and tossed 2.1 innings. Lacy allowed five earned runs on four hits. Josh Simmons (2-1) took the win in relief. Simmons tossed 4.2 innings allowing one earned run on four hits.

NEXT UP

UT Southern will travel to Stillman on Sunday, March 10^th. The Firehawks and Tigers will begin the twin bill at noon.

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