LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama softball team closed out its 12-game homestand with a pair of setbacks to No. 2 Valdosta State on Saturday at the UWA Softball Complex. The Blazers claimed the opener 10-2 and edged UWA 3-2 in the second contest.
UWA falls to 28-16 on the season and 5-9 in Gulf South Conference play. The Blazers improved to 25-3 overall and 11-3 in league games.
The Tigers carried a 1-0 lead heading into the final at bat for the Blazers in game two, but a key two-out RBI single by Stephanie Carlson plated a pair of Blazers, coupled with a fielding miscue pushed the third run across the plate on the play. UWA chipped into the lead in the final at bat with a run, but VSU's Holly Satterfield thwarted the Tiger rally. Lindsey Skinner led off the inning with a single and later scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Anna Shartzer. Skinner drove in UWA's first run of the day in the second inning, plating Angela Hanna. Skinner and Ashley Frost led the Red and White at the dish with a pair of hits each. UWA out-hit the Blazers 10-6, but was plagued with four fielding miscues.
UWA starter Katie Ford kept the Blazers off balance all day as she posted eight strikeouts in her seven innings pitched. After VSU threatened to score in the second with a pair of runners in scoring position, she fanned Melessa Jackson to the frame. That punch out started a string of nine consecutive batters that the Garden City, Kan.-native sat down. Amber Shaw touched Ford for two of the six hits off of Ford.
In game one, VSU proved why they are one of the top home run hitting clubs in the GSC. The Blazers cranked four homeruns in the contest, including three-straight round-trippers in the fourth. Alyssa Shirey hit a three-run shot in the second inning to extend VSU's lead to 5-0. She later began the string of three-straight with a solo shot. Carlson and Colette Rollins followed suit behind Shirey.
UWA put its two runs on the board in the third after Hanna and Angela Smith led off with back-to-back singles. The duo scored on Kelli Hartley's single to left center. VSU tagged UWA starter Hannah Billingsley with 11 hits and struck out just once in the five-inning contest. Billingsley also walked five in the affair. Satterfield was credited with the win after tossing a complete game, five-hit performance.
The Tigers will return to action on Thursday, April 8, in the annual GSC Crossover in Decatur, Ala. UWA begins the four-day, seven-game event against the Lady Statesmen of Delta State. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. All games at the Crossover can be followed via live stats at www.uwaathletics.com.
