Carrollton, GA - Matthew Norton pitched a complete game and only allowed two runs, but it wasn't enough as the UWG baseball team fell 2-1 to the West Alabama Tigers in a classic pitcher's duel on Friday afternoon in frigid temperatures at Cole Field.

Both teams combined for just 11 hits on the day with only two extra base hits. The Wolves got on the board first when centerfielder Drew Eady drove in Justin Croft with an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning. Norton was dealing early as he held the Tigers hitless through three innings before the Tigers got a single off the bat of Jack Cockrum in the fourth.

West Alabama scored their two runs in the fifth inning off of three hits with a sacrifice fly and an RBI double.

West Georgia had a hard time getting anything going on offense in the cold as the Wolves went down in order in every inning from the the fifth to the eighth. In the ninth inning, the Wolves had a threat after Garrett Hayes drew a walk. Neal Gandee came on to pinch run and stole second to put the tying run in scoring position. West Alabama would strike out the final batter of the game, handing UWG the loss.

Catcher Payton Mann had two hits on the day for West Georgia while Tyler Hutch, Garrett Hayes, and Drew Eady also picked up hits. Norton's final line was nine innings pitched with two earned runs and three strikeouts. Norton is now 2-2 on the season with a 1.73 earned run average.

The Wolves fall to 7-4 on the season, and 1-3 in Gulf South Conference play. West Alabama improves to 9-4 and a 3-1 GSC record.

The Wolves and Tigers meet at Cole Field for games two and three tomorrow afternoon. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. with the second, seven-inning game to take place shortly thereafter.