Union University baseball continued its red-hot stretch this weekend, sweeping Auburn University Montgomery in a three-game Gulf South Conference series at Fesmire Field. The Bulldogs took the first two games by run rule before walking off in the finale, earning their third straight GSC series win and surging back into postseason contention.
Union opened the weekend with a dominant 13-3 victory in Friday’s opener. Senior engineering major and right-handed pitcher, Eli Snelson, picked up his sixth win of the season, allowing three runs and striking out six. Union’s offense exploded for 18 hits, led by three-hit performances from Dyllon Barrett, Grant Ross, Caleb Davis and Hudson Cepparulo.
“It boosts our confidence a lot, I can’t lie,” Snelson said, following the series sweep. “We’re getting hot at the right moment. We know we need to keep winning to make the tournament and we haven’t made the tournament since I’ve been here, so it’s definitely a goal we’re looking forward to and I think this series sweep, boosts our confidence to another level.”
Saturday’s early game was even more commanding. The Bulldogs erupted for eight runs in the fourth inning, turning a 3-1 lead into a blowout on the way to a 16-2 win in seven innings. Freshman education major and right-handed pitcher, Carter Daniel, improved to 4-3, while Union’s offense was once again clicking – posting thirteen hits and drawing five walks.
“The guys have done a good job of holding each other accountable and that has started to show,” head coach Casey McGehee said, “and there’s that feeling of guys are genuinely happy for somebody else’s success, even if it means they’re not the one getting the opportunity.”
Game three brought a different type of test. Tied 2-2 in the final inning, Union delivered in the clutch with a walk-off RBI single that capped a tightly contested battle. Briant Bazydlo (1-2) earned the win in relief after a scoreless seventh.
McGehee emphasized the value of winning a close one after back-to-back blowouts. “That’s a pretty good team over there. We knew going into the last game it was going to be tight,” he said, “Our pitchers throw the ball incredibly well. It was great to be able to keep the momentum and have multiple guys throw the ball the way they did.
Union has now won nine of its last twelve games and sits at 18-23 overall, 12-14 in GSC play. With two crucial conference series remaining, the Bulldogs are squarely in the hunt for a Gulf South Conference Tournament spot.
“We’ve still got work to do,” McGehee continued, “But we’ve been focused on controlling what we can, and the results are starting to show.”
The Bulldogs will look to keep their momentum rolling in their next away series this weekend against the University of Montevallo in Montevallo, Ala.
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