LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama split a Gulf South Conference Doubleheader with Mississippi College on a rainy day at the UWA Softball Complex Saturday. The Tigers took game one 9-2 before falling in the second contest 15-13 in extra innings.
West Alabama moves to 10-16 overall and 4-13 in GSC play. Mississippi College returns to Clinton, Miss. 15-10 and 10-7.
"I'm proud of our effort today," said UWA head coach
Will Atkinson.
"We gave up some runs in the eighth inning of game two, but all day we never quit. Any day you can look up and see 13 runs on 13 hits; you have a chance. It rained every pitch today and the conditions were miserable, but nobody complained. Every one of our players got out there and gave it their all."
The Tigers took an early advantage in both games, including a 1-0 lead in game one courtesy of RBI single by
Ashley Stassin to score
Lydia North.
Scarlett Wright then added to the lead in the bottom of the second inning with two RBI single to push the lead to 3-0.
Brooke Smitherman knocked in the first run for Mississippi College in the top of the thrid with a double to make it 3-1.
In the bottom of the third, a two run single by
Libby Davis and a three run triple by
Jordyn Whiddon pushed the lead to 8-1.
Treasure Rodriguez capped off the scoring with a solo home run in the sixth inning.
Ashley Stassin dominated the second game offensively with three home runs and four RBI including a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh that sent the game into extra innings tied 9-9.
In the extra frame, Mississippi College scored six runs with three off a double by Megan Everett.
Whiddon and Wright both knocked in runs in the bottom of the inning, but the Tigers offensive flare fell short by two runs.
Ashley Stassin finished with six RBI on the day to lead the West Alabama offense.
Kristen Bittle connected on her first career home run in the bottom of the fourth inning of game two that gave the Tigers a 6-5 lead.
"One play here and there was the difference in taking the series or not," Atkinson said.
"There was not one particular thing that hurt us, it just came down to us making an extra play somewhere in the game. I challenged the hitters today and they were able to come out and get 22 runs. Today our hitters were locked in and did what they needed to do."
Stassin (3-2) pitched the complete first game, striking out six batters and allowing only one earned run to capture the win. She entered in the eighth to relieve
Alli Hall in game two, but allowed four runs on three hits to pick up the loss.
Carlie Sargent (11-4) was credited with the loss in game one giving up five earned runs for the Choctaws, but took the game two win in her relief appearance.
Karla Beth Hux paced the Choctaws offensively with six RBI.
West Alabama will return to action Wednesday, March 25 in a road, non-conference doubleheader with Tuskegee University. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
