JACKSON, Tenn.- The Union University baseball dropped the first game of their Gulf South Conference series with North Alabama 5-2 Saturday evening. Union fell to 4-20 on the season and 2-14 in conference play while the Lions improved to 17-5 and 8-4 in conference play.
 
Union fell behind in the 1-0 in the top of the first when Brett Guzay scored from second on a double into the left center gap from Dylan Boston.
 
The Bulldogs had chances to get on the board in the bottom of the 2^nd and 5^th innings but North Alabama's right fielder Jake Smith threw out Chaz Wilson and Hunter Smith at the plate to end both innings.
 
North Alabama added another run in the top of the fifth on a routine groundball to the right side from Kevin Hall that scored Kyle Hubbuch and put the Lions up 2-0.
 
Union finally got their offense going in the bottom of the sixth with Shane Wilder reaching on an error to start the inning and then was followed up with sacrifice bunts from Caleb Warnimont and Austin Orr who both ended up reaching base safely. Wilder scored on the bunt from Orr and Warnimont was pushed home by a single from Wilson to tie the game up at 2-2.
 
North Alabama rallied back in the top of the seventh pushing across another run on a sacrifice fly from Hubbuch that scored Kyle Crabtree from third. The Lions scored two more runs in the eighth and ninth innings to set the final at 5-2.
 
Freshman Marty Coursey started on the hill for the Bulldogs going 7.1 innings giving up four runs on eight hits to earn the loss. Trae Bain came on to pitch in the middle of the eight in a bases loaded, one out situation in which he got a strikeout and a flyout to end the Lion threat.
 
Wilson led Union at the plate going 1-for-4 with an RBI, while Warnimont finished the afternoon 1-for-4 with a run scored.
 
Brantley Claunch fired a complete game on the mound for North Alabama giving up two unearned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts to earn the win. Guzay finished the day 1-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI while Boston went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI's.
 
Union wraps up their conference series with North Alabama with a doubleheader on Sunday, March 22nd, at 1:00 p.m.
 
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