COLUMBUS, Ga. – The University of West Alabama softball team held off Columbus State to draw a split in the final day of the Hughston Sports Clinic Classic. The Tigers (3-1) claimed a 7-6 win over CSU (6-2) after falling 9-0 to No. 2 North Georgia earlier in the day. North Georgia improved to 7-0 on the season.
In the second contest, UWA struck the first blow pasting three runs in the first inning. Kelli Hartley drove in all three runs with a double to right center that scored Taylor Beck, Valisha Fincher and Ashley Frost. Beck reached with a single while Vincher was hit by a pitch and Frost drew walk.
After the Cougars added two runs in the bottom of the second, the Tigers posted a four spot in the third to take a 7-2 lead.
Hartley plated the first two runs of the inning with a 2-RBI, double – her second of the game - to score Jessica Powell and Fincher. Meagan Sloke followed with a single to right center to score Hartley - increasing the Tigers margin to 6-2. The final run of the inning came as Beck singled to plate Sloke.
CSU added a run in the bottom of the third and fourth to narrow the lead to three runs before pulling within one run in the fifth. Kara Gordon led off with a single in the frame and later scored on a failed pickoff attempt. Casey Googe – who walked and advanced to third on the failed attempt – scored on a wild pitch.
The Tigers would hold off CSU in the final two frames to earn the victories.
Katie Ford (3-0) logged the win in the circle. Ford pitched four innings while allowing four runs on five hits while fanning three and walking four. Kristen Skinner entered with three innings of work in relief and earned her first save of the season. Skinner allowed two runs on a hit with four strikeouts and a pair of walks.
Beck and Hartley each registered multiple hits in the contest while Powell, Sloke and Angela Smith each garnered a hit.
In the loss to the second-ranked Saints, Powell was the only Tiger to log multiple hits as she went 2 for 2 from the dish. Hartley, Sloke and Smith each garnered a hit in the losing effort.
Hannah Griffin (0-1) drew the start for the Red and White – pitching 4 1/3 innings. Griffin allowed eight runs - three earned - on seven hits. Skinner tossed the final 2/3 innings surrendering a run on three hits.
West Alabama returns to action on Feb. 18 as the Tigers take part in the three-day, UAH hosted Charger Chillout. UWA will face Florida Tech and Wayne State in the first day of the tournament.
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