Carrollton, GA - The Wolves got off to a good start in their first taste of action in the Gulf South Conference in 2010, splitting a doubleheader in Florence, Al. with the North Alabama Lions. The Lions took game one by a 8-5 score and the Wolves responded in game two with a 9-5 victory.
Game one of the GSC East season for these two teams was an offensive duel, as the two teams combined for 13 runs on 18 hits in the game. Both squads helped out their opponent as well, as each team committed two errors.
North Alabama opened the series strong with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the first inning. West Georgia responded with three runs in the top of the second, with the big stick coming from catcher
David Buchanan, who collected two RBI with a single.
The Lions added two runs in the second, fourth and sixth innings and never looked back in taking their first GSC victory of the season.
Brett Wright,
Michael Hornsby and Buchanan each had a pair of hits in the game to lead the Wolves at the plate. Senior pitcher
Toby Jordan worked three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits to close out the game.
Facing a defeat in game one, the Wolves responded immediately in game two with two runs in their first at-bat. Hornsby led the game off with a single and scored on Wright's single after stealing second base. Wright later came around to score on an RBI single off the bat of shortstop
Justin Smith to put the Wolves ahead 2-0.
After UNA scored three runs in the bottom of the second, the Wolves went ahead for good with a three-run third inning. UWG scored their three runs off three consecutive hits by senior
Brian York, Smith, and junior
Phillip West.
UWG would add another run in the fourth and two more in the fifth before North Alabama sliced into the lead with two runs in the sixth, making it 8-5 in favor of West Georgia. The Wolves added another in the seventh to solidify their 9-5 conference victory.
Smith had one of his best outings in a West Georgia uniform in the second game, going 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and four RBI. Senior hurler
Cory Watts worked five solid innings to collect his fourth win of the season.
The Wolves and Lions return to Mike Lane Field tomorrow to play the rubber game of their three game set at 2:00 p.m.