PULASKI, Tenn. – Tennessee Southern battled NCAA Division II Alabama–Huntsville in a back-and-forth midweek game Tuesday afternoon at Bobby Walker Field, but the Chargers held on for a 13–12 win despite a late Firehawks push.
UAH struck first in the opening inning, but Tennessee Southern answered in the second. Cooper Phillips worked a walk to begin the frame and Devin Thrain followed with another free pass. After Masato Mizumori laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position, a wild pitch allowed Phillips to score. Carson Foote was then hit by a pitch and quickly made an impact on the basepaths, stealing second and advancing to third on a throwing error that also allowed Thrain to cross the plate and give the Firehawks a 2–1 lead.
The Firehawks added to the advantage in the third. Zac Wilson walked and Evan Nelson followed with a single to put two aboard. Phillips delivered the big swing of the inning, lining a two-run single to center to plate both runners. Later in the frame, Zach Chaney grounded out to shortstop to bring home another run as Tennessee Southern moved in front 5–2.
UAH answered with two runs in the fourth and surged ahead with a four-run fifth inning to take an 8–6 lead, but the Firehawks responded immediately in the bottom half. Chaney worked a walk and Foote followed with a single up the middle. Anthony Pastrana then laid down a bunt single to load the bases before Wilson drew a walk to force in a run. Nelson followed with a two-run single to left field, scoring Foote and Pastrana to push Tennessee Southern back in front, 9–8.
The Chargers regained the lead in the seventh with a four-run inning, moving ahead 12–9.
Tennessee Southern answered in the bottom of the seventh. Foote was hit by a pitch to start the rally and Pastrana followed with a single. Wilson then singled down the right-field line to load the bases, and a wild pitch brought Foote home to cut the deficit to 12–10 after seven complete.
UAH added an insurance run in the eighth to extend the lead to 13–10, but the Firehawks made one last push in the ninth. Foote walked and advanced to second on a balk before Pastrana worked a walk. After Foote stole third and Pastrana swiped second, Reagan Tomlin delivered a two-run single up the middle to pull Tennessee Southern within one. The rally continued to build pressure, but UAH recorded the final out with the tying run on base.
Pastrana led the Firehawks with three hits, three runs scored, and two stolen bases. Wilson finished with three hits and two RBIs, while Nelson collected three hits, including a double, and drove in two. Phillips added a two-run single and drove in two, and Tomlin delivered the two-run hit in the ninth inning. Foote scored three times and stole two bases, while Chaney drove in a run and reached base twice.
Tennessee Southern returns to action Friday, March 6, hosting Faulkner to open a Southern States Athletic Conference weekend series.
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