LIVE STATS

COLUMBUS, Ga. – The University of West Alabama softball team opened the 2011 season by setting a school record and tying two others in a 28-4 trouncing of Miles College. The Tigers (2-0) then rallied for a 12-11 victory over Columbus State. The loss was the first of the season for the Cougars.

The 28 runs against MC eclipsed the 24 runs totaled against Judson College in 2009. UWA tied the school mark for RBI in a game with 23 – equaling the mark set by the 2007 squad against Clark Atlanta.

Ashley Frost tied the school record for RBI with seven en route to a 5 for 5 at the dish in the win. The San Jose, Calif. native also drove in three runs and launched one of the Tigers' two homeruns in the affair. Valisha Fincher – who also recorded a homer – finished the game with multiple hits and three RBI. Anna Shartzer, Kelli Hartley, Jessica Powell and Caitlyn Bonham also tallied multiple hits in the victory.

Katie Ford (2-0) claimed her first of two victories in the circle for UWA as the Garden City, Kan. product tossed four innings while allowing two runs on four hits. The senior recorded seven strikeouts and walked just a pair in the win. Taylor Tucker logged her first collegiate inning as she allowed two runs on two hits with a strikeout and a walk.

In the contest against CSU (4-1), the Tigers rallied from behind twice late in the game to pick up the victory. Ford – who notched her 27th victory at UWA – entered the circle in the final frame. Ford allowed a run on three hits.

Trailing 9-6 after 5 1/2 innings, the Tigers plated a five spot on the scoreboard to take an 11-9 lead heading into the final frame.

Fincher drove in the first run of the inning with a two-out, RBI single that plated Angela Smith. Following a Frost single that loaded the bases, Hartley drew a walk to score Allison Lockhart – who was pinch running for Taylor Beck. Powell then stepped to the plate with the bases still full and doubled – scoring Hartley, Frost and Vincher for the two run lead after six complete innings.

CSU tied the game in the seventh inning as Keeley Kennedy singled to center field to plate Branigan Wix and Rocky Hemmer.

The Tigers for the second time in the outing rallied. With two outs, Shartzer doubled to right center to become the winning run. Beck followed with a single to plate Shartzer and claim the come from behind victory.

Kristen Skinner – who drew her first start of the season - tossed the first five innings for the Red and White. Skinner surrendered eight runs on seven hits while logging five strikeouts and three walks. Hannah Griffin also threw an inning for the Tigers – allowing two runs on four walks.

West Alabama returns to action on Sunday, Feb. 13 as the Tigers square off against No. 2 North Georgia at 2 p.m. in the Hughston Sports Clinic Classic. The Tigers close out the Classic with a 4 p.m. rematch against CSU.

Fans can follow the Tigers on Facebook (www.facebook.com/UWAathletics) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/UWAathletics). Additionally, fans may also sign up to receive SMS text alerts at www.uwathletics.com.