LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama softball team opened Gulf South Conference play with a pair of 3-2 setbacks to in-state nemesis North Alabama. The two losses are the first back-to-back stumbles of the season for the Tigers – who dropped to 16-4 on the season. UNA improved to 5-11 on the campaign.

In the opening game, Anna Shartzer became UWA's first run as she scored on a Jessica Powell ground out in the first inning. The Tigers clung to the 1-0 lead through six innings of work until the Lions tallied all three of their runs in the top of the seventh.

Kristen Skinner (7-1), who had cruised through the first six frames, ran into trouble in the inning allowing three straight walks to score the Lions first two runs. The Purple and Gold's final run of the game came on a Kathryn Young sacrifice fly that scored Heather Suddoth.

The Tigers attempted a rally in the bottom of the inning - loading the bases in their final at-bat with no outs, but UWA managed only one run as Meagan Sloke scored on Shartzer sac fly to left field to close out the Red and White's scoring in the contest.

Skinner surrendered all three UNA runs on five hits in 6.1 innings of work. The junior also fanned three batters in the effort. Taylor Tucker tossed the final 2/3 innings while walking a pair.

In the second game of the twinbill, Powell again scored the first of the contest, this time with a lead-off homerun to left field in the second inning. The homer was the fourth of the season for Powell – who is tied with Valisha Fincher for the team lead.

UNA knotted the contest at 1-all in the fourth inning as Natalie Harrison singled to left field to score Ali Barnette. The Tigers answered on a Shartzer single to right field in the home half of the inning to score Sloke and regain the one-run advantage.

The lead would be short lived as Jennifer Sharp and Barnette recorded back-to-back RBI, singles in the fifth inning to give the Lions a 3-2 lead.

Katie Ford (8-2) totes the complete game, loss while allowing all three runs on 10 hits with two strikeouts and three walks.

West Alabama returns to action on Friday, Mar. 18 as UWA travels to North Alabama. First of the doubleheader is scheduled for 5 p.m. Live stats will be available at www.uwaalthletics.com.