LIVINGSTON, Ala. – West Alabama posted four home runs on the day to split in its final Gulf South Conference regular season doubleheader against nationally ranked No. 10 Alabama Huntsville at the UWA Softball Complex on Saturday. The Tigers fell 10-6 in game one despite mounting a comeback, but held off the Chargers' comeback in game two to win 4-3.
West Alabama moves to 20-25 overall and 11-20 in the GSC with a chance to win the series in game three on Sunday. Alabama Huntsville is now 36-12 and 22-8.
Three of the Tigers four homers belonged to two seniors, who were honored before game one in their final home series. Senior
Jordyn Whiddon sparked the comeback in game one with a home run in the fourth inning that put the Tigers on the board.
Trailing 8-1 in the fifth, UWA added four more runs capped off by another home run by fellow senior
Miriah Chavez.
West Alabama cut the Chargers lead to 8-6, but two runs by UAH in the top of the seventh ended the Tigers surge.
"We had a good idea at the plate today," said UWA head coach
Will Atkinson. "We struggled defensively a little game one and that ended up putting us in a bind. We were still able to battle back from being down 8-1, but we let them score two late runs. We hit well enough to win, but if the defense doesn't show up, it makes it hard to win."
The Tigers took an early 2-1 lead in the second inning of game two. Whiddon struck again with a solo homer in the third to extend the lead. Junior
Treasure Rodriguez added her ninth home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth to secure UWA's victory.
Rodriguez led the day 3-for-6 at the plate with two runs and three RBI, including a two run single in the fourth inning of game one. Chavez and Whiddon each ended with two RBI. Whiddon now owns eight home runs this season, while Chavez has five.
"In the second game, we came out and played very solid defense," Atkinson said. "We made some big plays when we had to. They tried an in-the-park home run in the first and we were able to throw her out. UAH is a Top 25 team, and it speaks a lot of where we can be with the split today."
Ashley Stassin (9-3) completed her eighth game of the year to get the win in game two. She allowed two earned runs and seven hits. Kimberly Jack (10-4) received the loss with three runs through two and half innings.
Tyler Harrison (14-3) picked up the win in game one, despite allowing five runs on six hits.
Alli Hall (9-17) took the loss with seven earned runs.
The series will conclude with game three at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the UWA Softball Complex.
"We have a chance to win the series, and that will be big for us," said Atkinson. "Our series wins have been few and far between this year. It would be nice to wrap this one up with a win over a real good ball club."
