LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama softball team opened weekend play with a sweep of Christian Brothers on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers (15-3, 5-3 Gulf South Conference) claimed game one 6-3 and then run-ruled the Lady Bucs (8-12, 4-4 GSC) 8-0 in the finale.
 
The conference sweep is the first for the Red and White since the conclusion of last season at West Georgia – a sweep that sent the Tigers into the GSC Tournament.
 
UWA combined for 23 hits on the day as Stephanie Shoup led at the dish registering multiple hits in each contest going. The Oviedo, Fla., native went 2-for-3 in the first game with a RBI and two runs scored and followed with a 2-for-4 effort with three RBI in the night cap.
 
Leading 1-0 after the first frame in the opener, the Tigers strung together six consecutive singles in the second inning to plate three runs increasing their lead to 4-0 after two complete innings. Miller posted the first hit with a two-out, base knock through the right side. Tamara Vickers singled to left field to put two runners aboard for the UWA threat.
 
Shoup singled up the middle to score Miller for the first run of the inning. Vickers also scored on the play on a CBU error. Rebecca Schick followed with the second, RBI single of the inning lining one into left field to score Shoup.
 
After CBU added its first run in the third inning cutting into the margin, the two squads exchanged singles in the fifth and sixth innings.
 
Brittany Smith added her third homerun of the season in the fifth with a solo shot to center field. Taylor Beck added a RBI, single to left field in the sixth inning for the final Tiger run of the contest.
 
Kristen Skinner (6-3) recorded her seventh complete game in the victory. Skinner struck out six CBU batters while allowing three runs – one earned - on eight hits in the outing.
 
In the second game of the twinbill, the top three batters in the lineup for the Tigers recorded multiple hits. Vickers went for 2-for-3 with a RBI and run scored, while Schick logged two hits in four at-bats with a run scored to join Shoup with mutli-hits.
 
Jessica Brock (9-3) logged her seventh complete game in the win. Brock tossed six scoreless innings with a strikeout and scattered five hits.
 
Shoup delivered a two-out, two-RBI single to close out a three-run, second inning for the Tigers after Vickers plated the opening run of the contest on a single up the middle to score Smith.
 
UWA held the 3-0 lead through the following two innings before erupting for an additional three runs in the fifth frame. Smith scored the first run with a two-out, double that plated Allison Lockhart. Brooklynn Phillips followed with a two-RBI, single to score Morgan Morrison and Phillips.
 
Schick knocked in the final run of the contest on a single down the left field line to score Vickers after Shoup plated the seventh run on a double to center that pushing Beck across the dish.
 
West Alabama returns to action on Sunday, Mar. 25 as the Tigers host Delta State at 2 p.m.