COLUMBUS, Ga. – The University of West Alabama softball team opened the 2012 season with a pair of losses on the first day of the Hughston Sports Clinic Classic. UWA opened with a 9-0 decision against the host CSU and concluded the day with a 4-1 setback to Augusta State.

The Red and White totaled just 3 hits in the two contests.

In the night cap of the twinbill, both squads fought through four scoreless innings. After the Jaguars posted the first run of the contest in the top of the fifth, UWA recorded its first run of the campaign on a homerun by Angela Arredondo to right field.

ASU regained the lead in the following inning as Renae Kimble singled through the left side to score Kristen Jones. The Jags added another run in the frame before posting the final run of the game on the board in the seventh inning.

Hannah Griffin took the loss in the circle with two-thirds an inning pitched. The senior allowed 2 runs – 1 earned – with a pair of walks in the relief appearance. Jessica Brock, the Red and White starter, tossed 5 innings while allowing a run with 4 walks and 3 strikeouts. Kristen Skinner and Taylor Tucker each saw work in the contest combining for 1.2 innings with 3 hits, 1 run and 2 walks surrendered.

In the opener, Brooklyn Phillips posted the only two Tiger hits as five different batters struck out a total of seven times as the Red and White left a pair stranded in the contest.

CSU struck the first blow with a run in the first inning and added four in the second frame to take an early 5-0 lead. After adding another run in third inning, the Cougars closed out the scoring with a three spot in the fourth to capture the season opening win

Morgan Staffins and Casey Googe each posted multiple hits in the contest for CSU helping the team to its 7-hit total. The duo along with Nina Rubio combined for 6 of the runs driven in for the victory. The Cougars also capitalized in 4 Tiger errors in the contest.

UWA starter Brock was saddled with the loss. The Gallion, Ala., native pitched just two innings in her debut allowing 5 runs – 4 earned – on 3 hits with 4 strikeouts and 4 walks. Griffin surrendered 4 runs – 3 earned - on 4 hits in 1.2 innings of relief. Phillips tossed just a third of an inning to close out the pitching.

Mollie Russell tossed the complete 5 innings for the Red and Blue in the win.

West Alabama returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 11 as the Tigers close out the classic against Lenoir-Rhyne and against Augusta State.