Tournament Information (live stats and blog)


HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – In a thrilling come-from-behind victory the University of West Alabama softball team stands one win away from advancing to the College World Series with a 10-5, eighth inning triumph over Alabama-Huntsville.

Trailing 5-1 heading into the seventh and their final at-bat, the Tigers rattled off four runs to draw even with the Chargers at 5-5.

After Angela Smith reached base on one of the UAH miscues in the inning, Anna Shartzer doubled down the left field line to put the first of the Red and White's four runs in scoring position. Taylor Beck then followed with a base hit to center to score Smith. Shartzer then scored on a Valisha Fincher double to left center and the Tigers pulled within 5-3.

Allison Lockhart, who pinch ran for Beck, scored on a 6-3 putout and put the Red and White down to its last out. Caitlyn Bonham kept the inning and the game going as she reached on the second Charger error and allowed Fincher to score to knot the game at 5-all.

The Red and White proceeded sit the Chargers down in order in the seventh and force the extra session. UWA then exploded in the eighth frame with five runs to capture its first lead of the contest as Jessica Powell and Rebecca Schick drove in all five runs.

Powell laced a three-run, double down the left field line to score Fincher, Shartzer and Smith. Schick then followed with a two-run homer to center field to cap the five-run frame.

Hannah Griffin (4-3) logged the victory in the circle with a relief appearance. Griffin scattered three hits in three innings with a run scored. Tiger starter Kristen Skinner tossed five innings with four runs allowed on six hits with three strikeouts and four walks.

The Tigers scored six earned runs against UAH reliever Alex Lewis (7-1), who entered the game in the fifth inning. Lewis had allowed just two earned runs on the season. Whitney Toler tossed four innings in the start for the Chargers with four hits allowed and a run surrendered.

The two teams meet again tomorrow at 2 p.m. Live stats, live audio and a live blog are available at www.uwaathletics.com.

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