Welcome to The Doghouse, a weekly column recapping Union University sports action from the weekend.
This weekend, Ultimate, softball, and baseball all traveled to Huntsville, Alabama. Ultimate went 4-4 to take 3rd at the Western Southeast Conference Tournament, softball dropped three games to UAH, and baseball split in a Sunday doubleheader.
Ultimate
The Union Jaxx entered the weekend seeded 2nd in the conference behind UAH.
In Saturday’s pool play, the Jaxx defeated No. 5 Spring Hill 13-5, lost to host UAH 11-6, lost to No. 6 Rhodes 12-11, and lost to No. 3 Samford 11-6. Union opened Sunday with their final pool play game, defeating No. 4 Belmont 13-8.
Based on their pool play performances, the Jaxx entered bracket play seeded 5th. They defeated 4th seed Rhodes 13-2, but fell to top seed UAH 10-9.
In the game for third place, and a ticket to Regionals, the Jaxx defeated the bracket’s 2nd seed, Belmont, 13-6.
The Southeast Regional Tournament is May 6-7 in Foley, Alabama.
Softball
In their series with UAH this weekend, softball went 0-3, losing 6-0, 5-2, and 8-0.
In game one, on Friday, UAH scored early, with a run in the first thanks to a hit batter, a double, and two walks. In the third inning, the Chargers added two runs on three hits and two walks. In the fourth, the Chargers put up two additional runs off of one hit, one walk, one hit batter, one sacrifice bunt, and one wild pitch. UAH’s sixth run came in the fifth inning off of two walks, a stolen base, and a throwing error.
Gabby Morris took the loss for Union, pitching four innings and allowing five runs on six hits and six walks. Ashley Graves and Taylor Griffith each pitched one inning of relief for the Lady Bulldogs, combining to allow one run on two hits and four walks.
In game two, also on Friday, Union scored first, with a triple from LaDesha Nelson that scored Paige Robertson. The Lady Bulldogs added to their lead with one run on two hits and an error in the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, UAH responded with five runs on four hits and an error, including a Sarah Jordan grand slam.
Parker Davis pitched all six innings for Union, taking the loss after allowing five runs on seven hits.
In Saturday’s game, UAH again held Union scoreless. In the first inning, the Chargers put across six runs on five hits, including a two-run double from Erin Jewell and a three-run bomb from Brooke Miller. In the sixth, UAH added two runs on two singles, a Kaitlyn Bannister homer, two walks, and a stolen base.
Davis started in the circle, pitching 0.1 innings. After allowing five runs on four hits and hitting a batter, Davis, who was credited with the loss, was pulled. Morris pitched the remaining five innings leading up to the mercy rule finish, allowing three runs on seven hits with six walks.
Union falls to 23-27 on the season with a 7-23 conference record.
Baseball
Sunday, Union baseball defeated UAH 6-2 before falling 7-0.
In game one, UAH scored first, with one run in the first inning. Union tied the game off of a Dylan Moore single in the next frame. In the bottom of the second, UAH added one run on two hits. The Bulldogs came alive in the fourth inning, when Zach Phillips launched a two-run homer. In the following inning, Zach Wylie hit a 2-RBI double, and in the sixth, Hayden Lewis hit a solo homer. The Chargers built a comeback, scoring one run in the sixth and two runs in the seventh, falling short of victory.
JR Miller earned the win for Union, pitching six innings and allowing five runs on ten hits. Austin Kitterman and Marty Coursey came in from the bullpen, combining for three shutout innings.
In the second contest, UAH dominated. In the third, the Chargers scored five runs on five hits, including back-to-back no count homeruns from AJ Walden and Trey Mathis. In the sixth, the Chargers scored two runs on two hits.
Ryne Roper took the loss, pitching 2.1 innings and allowing five runs on six hits. From the bullpen, Joe Hudson allowed two runs on three hits in 1.1 innings pitched, Cooper Bullough allowed one walk in 1.1 innings pitched, and Walter Rook allowed one hit in one inning pitched.
Union moves to 28-16 overall and 16-12 in Gulf South action.
Looking Ahead
Monday, the baseball team will play their last game of the series at UAH, and men’s and women’s golf will be playing in the Gulf South Conference Tournament. The golf tournament will continue on Tuesday, which is when baseball will host Tennessee Martin. Next weekend, baseball and softball will host West Georgia.