SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – The West Alabama softball team saw its run at the Gulf South Conference title come to a close in a 7-6, 8-inning affair with top-ranked Valdosta State. The Tigers (33-23) staved off elimination in the opening defeating in-state North Alabama 1-0 in the opening contest of the day.

UWA now puts its NCAA regional chances in the hands of the South Region selection committee as the regional field will be announced at 9 a.m. central on Monday, Apr. 30.

The Tigers battled back on several occasions in the setback to the Blazers tying the contest at 6-all in the sixth inning, but UWA would leave a total of five runners stranded in the final two innings, including bases loaded in the seventh frame.

VSU scored the game-winning run on a squeeze play at the plate as Natalia Morozova scored on the executed bunt of Angela O'Conner.

Taylor Miller forced the tie up in the sixth inning as the sophomore from Fort Lauderdale delivered a single up the middle to score Taylor Beck and Kelsey Cooper. Rebecca Schick scored earlier in the inning on a bunt single that was laid down by Cooper.

Kristen Skinner in second appearance of the day pitched the final 2.1 innings of action while allowing four hits, a walk and a strikeout in the relief effort.

After the Blazers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, Morgan Morrison rattled the inside of the right field, foul pole for a three-run, homerun to put UWA in front 3-1. The Red and Black however answered in the bottom of the frame to regain the lead at 6-3 as VSU scored five runs on four hits in the inning.

In the opener, Skinner picked up all the run support she needed in the first inning as the Toxey, Ala., native fanned five batters en route to the eight-hit shutout of the Lions. The total six strikeouts on the day put the senior over the 300 career strikeout mark.

The lone Tiger run came early as Tamara Vickers scored on a Morrison single up the middle. Vickers reached base earlier in the outing with a leadoff single to right center setting up the opening run.