HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Twenty-five total hits and three errors in game two proved too much to overcome as West Alabama softball fell to nationally ranked No. 18 Alabama Huntsville 13-2 and 12-3 in its Gulf South Conference-opening doubleheader on Friday.
With one game still remaining in the series, West Alabama begins conference play 0-2, dropping to 4-4 overall. Alabama Huntsville starts 2-0 in the GSC, improving to 10-2 on the season.
"I'm disappointed in the loss, but I see things that the score board isn't going to tell you in areas that we're getting better," said UWA head coach
Will Atkinson. "We showed a lot of resilience in the fact that we came out and scored early in the second game after not really putting up much of a fight in the first one."
In game one, the Chargers tallied 12 runs, including eight in the second inning, before the Tigers got on the board in the top of the fourth.
Ashley Stassin accounted for UWA's only runs with a two-run homer over the left field fence. UAH went on to add one more run in the bottom of the inning.
Tyler Harrison (5-2) picked up the win for the Chargers, allowing just two runs on three hits. Stassin (1-1) gave up six earned runs before leaving the game in the bottom of the second inning.
The Tigers took a 3-1 lead in the second inning of game two with the aid of a solo home run off the bat of sophomore
Libby Davis.
UAH rallied back to bring in five runs in the bottom of the fourth and three more in the sixth to complete the sweep.
Wascavage led the Chargers at the plate with five hits in six at bats. A two-run home run in game two gave her four RBI and two runs. Smith and Harrison each posted homers in game one. Smith finished led the Chargers at the plate with five total hits in seven at bats, posting a home run in game one, to finish with five runs and three RBI. Harrison also added a homer in game one to end the day 3-of-7 at the plate.
Kimberly Jack (2-0) gave up three runs on seven hits, earning the win for UAH.
Amanda Medders (1-1) allowed five earned runs in three innings pitched to take the loss.
"We're making strides it's a young ball club. We've got a ton of freshmen and sophomores that we play a whole lot, and we're gonna keep doing the things we need to do to give us a chance," Atkinson said.
The Tigers will finish up their three-game series against the Chargers on Saturday. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.?
