LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama softball team opens a 10-game homestand on Tuesday, Apr. 10 against Miles College at 4 p.m. UWA (23-15) then hosts Stillman on Wednesday, Apr. 11 at 5 p.m.

The Tigers enter the week riding a season-best, six-game win streak after road sweeps against Stillman, Delta State and Christian Brothers.

Stephanie Shoup led the way at the dish hitting .500 for the week. The Oviedo, Fla., native totaled a double, two triples and a homerun while driving in eight runs and scoring nine times. The junior outfielder nearly hit for the cycle in a 14-1 win over CBU going 3-for-4 at the plate without a single.

In the circle, Kristen Skinner posted three solid outings en route to moving to 10-5 on the season with a 1.84 ERA. The senior moved into fourth all-time in strikeouts among Tiger hurlers with 18 in the three victories bringing her career mark to 265.

Jessica Brock moved to second in the Gulf South Conference in wins with her 13th of the season – an 8-4 victory against the Lady Bucs. The freshman tossed five innings in the complete game shutout at Stillman – her fourth blanking of the season.

UWA looks to extend its win streak as taking the season series from Miles and Stillman after sweeping both squads earlier this season. The Red and White took a pair at Miles on Mar. 7 (12-9, 13-1) and rallied back against SC last Tuesday 5-2 before shutting out the Tigers 9-0.

Following the midweek tussles, West Alabama will return to GSC action this weekend as the Tigers host top-ranked Valdosta State at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 14 and welcome West Georgia on Sunday, Apr. 15 for Senior Day at 2 p.m.

STELLAR SHOUP
Junior Stephanie Shoup has proven a stellar bat for the Tigers moving to second on the team in batting average at .361. Shoup leads the squad in hitting in conference play – batting .411 with 14 RBI. The Oviedo, Fla., native also has a team-best 23 hits, including nine going for extra bases.

SKINNER AMONG THE STRIKEOUT LEADERS AT UWA
Kristen Skinner has etched her name further into the UWA record book with 265 career strikeouts – pushing her into fourth all-time. The Toxey, Ala., product fanned a team-best 18 batters during her three wins helping the Tigers to a 6-0 mark.

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 13 and sixth with 75 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 10 homeruns on the season to bring her career total to 18. In 2011, Schick finished third on the squad in homeruns. The sophomore also leads the Tigers with 42 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.

STILLMAN SWEEP
Taylor Beck and Stephanie Shoup each went 4-for-8 at the dish while driving in three runs apiece. Kristen Skinner registered a season-high tying mark of eight strikeouts en route to a 5-2 win. Jessica Brock tossed her third shutout of the season in a 9-0, complete game win with three hits scatters along with three strikeouts.

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.

HOME SWEET HOME
Under the guidance of fifth-year head coach Will Atkinson, the Tigers have recorded a 76-30 mark at the UWA Softball Complex.

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.