Carrollton, GA - The run at the 2016 Gulf South Conference Championships came to a close Monday evening at JIm Spooner Field in Pensacola, Fla, as the Wolves lost by an 11-1 final to second-seed Delta State.
The game was the fourth of the tournament for the Wolves and the second on Monday, with UWG going 2-2 at this year's tourney. For the third time under head coach
Skip Fite, West Georgia reached the semifinals of the tournament and were one of the final three teams left. The Wolves close out the tournament with a 39-14 record on the year, and will now await their fate with the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
How it Happened:
For the second-straight evening, the Wolves fell into a first-inning hole, with tonight's being slightly smaller with a 3-0 deficit after the top off the first, instead of the 4-0 first-inning score of last night's contest. Monday's three-run rally in the first from DSU was different, however, as the Statesmen took advantage of three UWG errors in the frame to build the 3-0 lead.
The Statesmen would add another run in the top of the 2nd before the Wolves pushed their first run of the contest across in the bottom of the third. In that inning, West Georgia had three hits, a fielder's choice and a walk that loaded the bases, followed by a
Garrett Hayes walk to bring home the first run of the game for UWG.
Delta State piled on a run in the top of the 4th, then two more in the sixth and three in the eighth to build a 10-1 advantage.
Tyler Gunnin came on in relief with one out and the bases loaded in that frame and shut the door as the fifth UWG pitcher to see the hill on the day. Gunnin was effective early, striking out three of the first five batters he faced in the contest, but then he walked three straight batters as
Joe Vonderschmidt came on to finish the game.
Turner Edwards started on the hill for the Wolves, making his 11th appearance of the year, his third start. The junior went five innings, allowing seven runs with three earned and eight hits.
Dalton Reagin, T.J. Watson, Tritt Fennell and Gunnin finished out the game for the Wolves.
West Georgia falls to 39-14 on the year with the loss, and will await the decision of the South Region committee on Sunday to see if the Wolves will be in the regional for the first time since the 1998 season. The selection show will air live at 10:00 PM on Sunday, May 15.
Live NCAA Division II Baseball Selection Show
