LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama softball team staved off a pair of West Georgia late-inning threats to post a Gulf South Conference sweep over the Wolves on Saturday at the UWA Softball Complex. The Tigers claimed the opener 6-4, before closing out the day with a 6-5 win in game two.
The two wins pushed UWA's conference mark to 4-4, while improving its overall mark to 25-11. UWG dropped to 12-28 overall and 0-8 in conference games.
In the opener, the Tigers plated a run in each of their first at bats to take an early 2-0 lead. UWG's Lauren Ellenburg tied the contest with a two-run home run that tipped off left fielder Lindsey Skinner's glove. The Red and White broke up the 2-2 deadlock with three-run fourth. In the frame, UWA strung together three hits, including a perfect squeeze bunt from Stephanie Beahn that scored Angela Smith, who picked up the first hit of the inning. Freshman Anna Shartzer drove in the first run of the at bat with a single to right. After UWG trimmed the deficit to 5-4 with a two-run fifth, the Tigers added a much needed insurance run in the sixth. Beahn drilled a two-out double down the left field line and scored on a Kelli Hartley base hit.
The Wolves touched UWA closer Jessica Cervantes with back-to-back hits, including a double from Ellenburg, to start the final inning. With the tying run at second, Cervantes settled in to set the next three batters down. Junior Katie Ford picked up first of two wins on the day after tossing four innings of work. The Garden City, Kan.-native struck out five and allowed five hits in her first duty of work on the day. Just like the opener, Ford came on in relief as UWA pitched the second contest by committee. In just two innings of work, she was touched for three hits and fanned a pair. Tiger starter Hannah Billingsley pitched an effective 3.1 and did not give up a hit. The Macon, Ga.-product re-entered the game in the seventh after UWG stormed back from a 6-1 final at bat deficit. Billingsley forced Kate Gorczyca to ground out to first for the final out. The save was the first of the season for Billingsley.
In game two, UWA did all of its damage in the fifth inning, putting together all six runs on the board in the frame. The Tigers, who batted through the order, started the scoring after Smith drilled a double to left field for the game's first two runs. After two outs, Hartley reached base on a misplayed ball by the centerfielder, which scored Smith. Jessica Powell added an RBI in the frame along with Meagan Sloke. The Wolves out-hit UWA in the second affair, 9-6, but took advantage of four UWG errors in the contest.
UWA returns to the diamond on Sunday, March 28, hosting nationally-ranked UAH in GSC action. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. Live stats will be available at www.uwaathletics.com. UAH split a twinbill with North Alabama on Saturday. The Chargers blanked the Lions 3-0 before dropping a 10-9 decision in the second game.
