PENSACOLA, Fla. — Matt Spruill’s solo home run to lead off the fifth inning proved to be the game winner as Alabama Huntsville defeated West Alabama, 4-3, to eliminate the Tigers from the Gulf South Conference Tournament Monday at Jim Spooner Field.

UAH improved to 33-19 with the win and will advance to Tuesday play against a team to be determined in Monday’s late game between West Georgia and Delta State. West Alabama dropped to 36-15 and will wait to see if an NCAA Regional bid is forthcoming on Sunday.

Josh Winningham and Adam Chamblee had doubles to drive in a run in the second inning to get UWA out to a 2-0 lead, but the Chargers answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead.

West Alabama tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the third on an RBI double by Luigi Mendez. That would be the last hit the Tigers would get until an infield single by Adam Chamblee to begin the ninth inning.

Charger starter Heath McRae (7-4) threw 150 pitches over 8 1/3 innings to earn the pitching win. Freshman closer Taylor Clemons struck out Winningham with the bases loaded in the ninth to earn his ninth save. UWA starter Evan Miller (6-5) was tagged with the loss, allowing eight hits and two earned runs over 4 2/3 innings pitched.

“We battled all the way to the end, but couldn’t get over the hump when we needed to,” UWA coach Gary Rundles said. “You have to tip your hat to Heath McRae for the job he did on the mound for UAH. We left too many runners on base and didn’t take advantage of opportunities late.”

Despite getting just five hits, West Alabama left 11 runners on base. Charger pitchers walked six and hit four Tiger batters. UAH got 10 hits and left nine.

Chamblee had two of West Alabama’s five hits, including his 12th double of the year. Ben Rhodes, Trey Mathis and Spruill had two hits apiece for UAH. Spruill’s homer was his sixth of the year.