Live Stats

Livingston, Ala. – The University of West Alabama softball team looks to parlay the success from a 42-17 2009 season into the 2010 campaign as the Tigers open the season on Thursday, Feb. 11 against Judson College.  First pitch of the twinbill is set for 2 p.m. at the UWA Softball Complex.

Live stats will be available at www.uwaathletics.com.

The Tigers return three 2009 All-Gulf South Conference East Division selections in Kelli Hartley, Valisha Fincher and Lauren Mills.  The trio was tabbed to the GSC Pre-Season All-GSC East squad by a vote from the division coaches.  UWA was selected fourth in the GSC Pre-Season Coaches Poll.  The trio guided the Tigers to their first trip to the GSC Tournament since 1997.  Hartley, who also claimed Daktronics All-American status as a sophomore, will look to lead a junior-laden Tiger squad this season after turning in a .390 batting average and 15 home runs.  Fincher ranked fifth in NCAA Division II Softball in walks with 43 and shared the home run lead with Hartley.  Mills ranked third on the team at the dish with a .338 and belted 12 home ru/ns.  Hartley, Fincher and Mills accounted for 42 of UWA's school-record 80 home runs last season.

UWA reloaded from the junior college ranks after losing six seniors off last season's club. Pitcher Katie Ford comes to Livingston after a decorated two-year stint at Johnson County Community College in Kansas.  The Garden City, Kan.-right handed pitcher was named All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association in 2009 and was a two-time Jayhawk Conference selection.  She finished with a 32-6 record in the circle at JCCC, including an impressive 13-1 mark as a sophomore.  Junior Ashley Frost, a transfer from San Jose City College, will add depth at the third base spot that was left vacant by departed senior Laura Bagwell.  Frost led SJCC to a 34-12 mark last season and to back-to-back postseason appearances.  The San Jose, Calif.-product batted .396 as a sophomore.  Lindsey Skinner, an Alabama Community College Conference product from nearby Shelton State Community College, was a two-time All-State selection at SSCC.  The Vestavia Hills, Ala.-outfielder turned in 28 stolen bases in two seasons at SSCC.  She finished the 2009 season with a .412 batting average after posting 68 hits.

Senior Jessica Cervantes is the lone returner on the pitching staff after posting an impressive 7-0 record and 13 saves on the season.  At one point during the season, the Visalia, Calif.-native broke the NCAA Division II saves record for a season. 

The Eagles of Judson soar into Livingston after dropping a pair of games to Marion Military Institute earlier in the week.

Following Thursday's affair, the Tigers travel to Jackson, Miss. to face NCAA Division III foe Millsaps.