LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The West Alabama softball team begins its run at its seventh Gulf South Conference title on Friday, Apr. 27 at 11 a.m. when the Tigers (31-21) face Delta State in the first game of the GSC Tournament at the Greenbrook Softball Complex in Southaven, Miss.

The six titles are second among the conference schools and just two shy of Alabama-Huntsville and one more than Valdosta State's five.

The Tigers picked up a pair of postseason accolades on Wednesday as Tamara Vickers and Kristen Skinner were named First Team All-Gulf South Conference.

Skinner is a second time all-conference recipient after making the team following a stellar first season with the Tigers. The Toxey, Ala., native is among the leaders in the conference in five pitching categories, including second in ERA (1.94), opposing batting average (2.35) and strikeouts (116). The senior hurler earlier this season became fourth all-time at UWA in strikeouts where she has fanned 294 in her two seasons in the circle.

Vickers earns her first ever all-conference laurel after a successful first season with the Tigers. The Lawndale, Calif., native is listed among the top batters in the GSC, including the top spot in the conference in triple (5) and ranking third in stolen bases with 26. The junior is fifth in the conference in batting average (.397) and sixth in runs scored (41) and hits (60) - all tops on the squad.

The duo becomes the 24th selections to the all-conference team under Atkinson and the 13th first team recipients under the Madison, Ala., native.

With 31 wins on the season, the Red and White has registered its fourth straight winning season under fifth-year head coach Will Atkinson – the most consecutive winning seasons in program history. The Madison, Ala., native's first squad finished 29-29 overall.

The Tigers have faced Delta State four times on the season posting an unblemished mark against the Lady Statesmen. In the four games against the Green and White, Morgan Morrison paced UWA offensively with a .545 batting average, including two homeruns and six RBI while also scoring five times. Skinner and Jessica Brock combined for all four wins in the circle and recorded 18 of the 19 strikeouts in the quartet of contests.

DIVISION II SOUTH REGIONAL RANKINGS
After sitting in sixth the previous two weeks, the West Alabama softball team dropped back one spot to seventh in the latest installment of the NCAA Division II South Region rankings for the 2012 season. The rankings are used at the end of the regular season to determine seeding in the national tournament. The Tigers are 31-21 overall and 30-20 in the region.
The Tigers swapped spots with fellow conference member West Florida as the Argos moved up to sixth marking the only change in the rankings. Valdosta State sits atop followed by a trio of Sunshine State Conference members in Tampa, Rollins and Barry. UAH holds on at the fifth spot while Nova Southeastern, Florida Southern and Palm Beach Atlantic round out the rankings.

1. Valdosta State
2. Tampa
3. Rollins
4. Barry
5. UAH
6. West Florida
7. UWA
8. Nova Southeastern
9. Florida Southern
10. Palm Beach Atlantic

SHOUP NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Stephanie Shoup becomes the third Player of the Week from the program this season and the fifth overall weekly winner. The junior continued her impressive streak at the plate, hitting .423 with a GSC-high 12 RBI during the eight-game span. Of her 11 hits, six went for extra bases – including three home runs – while walking three times. Her best performance came in the opening game of a doubleheader against Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference-leading Stillman. The Oviedo, Fla., native was a single short of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with six runs batted in.

STELLAR SHOUP
Junior Stephanie Shoup has proven a stellar bat for the Tigers moving to second on the team in batting average at .354. Shoup is among the leaders in the GSC in batting average, runs scored (40), doubles (13), triples (5) and RBI (37).

SKINNER AMONG THE STRIKEOUT LEADERS AT UWA
Kristen Skinner has etched her name further into the UWA record book with 294 career strikeouts moving to fourth all-time. The Toxey, Ala., product fanned a season-high 11 batters in a Senior Day win over West Georgia.

FRESHMAN HURLER IMPRESSIVE
Jessica Brock has been spectacular in the circle for the Tigers this season. The Gallion, Ala., product is second in the GSC in wins with 17 and sixth with 94 strikeouts in her first season with the Red and White.

NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP FOR SCHICK
Rebecca Schick has picked up where she left off a season ago. The New Orleans native has cranked out 12 homeruns on the season to bring her career total to 20. In 2011, Schick finished third on the squad in homeruns. The sophomore also leads the Tigers with 47 RBI on the campaign.

ATKINSON GETS CAREER 300TH
In a sweep of Stillman on Tuesday evening, Tiger skipper Will Atkinson picked up his 300th career win. Atkinson logged his 100th victory in Livingston also against the Tigers.

TOUGH WEEKEND
After posting back-to-back conference sweeps en route to running to a win streak of five games, West Alabama dropped a pair of GSC doubleheaders to North Alabama and UAH. As a team, the Tigers hit just .204 with a total of 20 hits in 98 at-bats. The Tiger hurlers allowed a combined 25 runs in the four losses with a 5.12 ERA.

BACK-TO-BACK GSC SWEEPS
With sweeps of Christian Brothers and Delta State; West Alabama logged its first back-to-back, GSC sweeps under Atkinson. The four wins helped the Tigers to a 7-1 record during the week.

IMPRESSIVE EIGHT GAMES
During the eight-game stretch that assisted helping UWA into the second spot in the GSC, five Tigers hit .400 or better. Tamara Vickers led the way with a .500 hitting clip and registered 11 hits during the span. Stephanie Shoup recorded an eight-game, hit streak during the span while tying Vickers with 11 hits along with Kelsey Cooper. Shoup also tallied seven RBI which was second on the team. Rebecca Schick recorded a team-best 10 RBI during the span with 10 hits.

SWEPT… TWICE
West Alabama swept GSC Player and Pitcher of the Week twice this season. Jessica Brock has claimed Pitcher of the Week on consecutive weeks while Taylor Miller and Taylor Beck have each taken Player of the Week honors.

NO-HITTER
Jessica Brock pitched a complete game, no-hit shutout for the first time in the Red and White en route to her fourth victory of the season. The freshman registered a career-high 10 strikeouts while walking just four batters in a 10-0 victory over Tuskegee.

NEW FACES FOR 2012
West Alabama welcomes 12 newcomers to the 2012 squad. Among the new faces are GSC top newcomers Jessica Brock, Kelsey Cooper and Stephanie Shoup. The total newcomer lists comprises of eight juniors, a sophomore and three freshmen.

SKINNER NAMED PRESEASON ALL-GSC
Kristen Skinner was tabbed as the lone UWA representative following a stellar first season with the Red and White. Last season, the Toxey, Ala., native tossed 179.2 innings while compiling a 20-2 record and a 2.10 ERA. The senior pitcher recorded three, double-digit strikeout performances en route to fanning a conference-best 178 batters and nabbing first team laurels.

TIGERS LOOKING TO CONTINUE SUCCESS FROM 2011
West Alabama finished its 2012 season with a final record of 38-19 along with a berth in the NCAA South Super Regional. UWA has claimed 38 wins the last two seasons. The Tigers have registered 30-plus wins the last three seasons, including 42 in 2009.