CARROLLTON, Ga. – The University of West Alabama softball team clinched the East Division three-seed in the Gulf South Conference Tournament in Southaven, Miss. May 6-8 with a sweep of West Georgia on Sunday afternoon. UWA (32-14, 12-12 GSC) romped the Wolves 11-4 in the opening game and 9-3 in the nightcap.

The Red and White, which cranked out 21 hits in the twinbill, make their first appearance in the conference tournament since 2009.

A six-run, sixth inning helped propel the Tigers to the opening game victory. Jessica Powell plated the first two runs of the inning with a home run to center field that scored Valisha Fincher, who doubled to lead off the frame. After Ashley Frost singled to center field to score Angela Smith, Madison Fuller wrapped up the inning with a two-RBI, single up the middle that scored Kelli Hartley and Frost. The final run came on a Taylor Beck sacrifice fly that scored Caitlyn Bonham.

UWA struck first in the contest as Schick uncorked a three-run homer that put UWA up 3-0 in its first at-bat. UWG answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning giving the Wolves a one run lead. 

Anna Shartzer knotted the game at 4-all in the third inning as she scored on a Beck sac fly to left field. Frost put the Red and White back on top with a solo homer in the fourth inning.

Kristen Skinner (16-5) pitched 6.1 innings in the win while fanning five with seven walks. Taylor Tucker recorded the final two outs in the circle while tallying a strikeout and walk.

The sixth inning proved to be the big inning in the second game as well as the Tigers hit three homers during the frame that accounted for five runs. Shartzer and Powell each launched two-run dingers with a Beck solo homer sandwiched between. Frost and Hartley also drove in runs during the inning.

UWA jumped on the board first with a pair of runs in its first trip to the plate. After Shartzer scored on a Schick sac fly to left field for the first run of the game, Meagan Sloke singled to right field to score Beck.

The Wolves nipped into the lead with a run in the fourth inning. UWG added two more runs in the home half of the sixth to narrow the deficit to 9-3.

Katie Ford (13-4) allowed eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks in the complete game win.

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