LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Nationally ranked No. 6 North Alabama totaled 33 runs on 31 hits to sweep West Alabama in Gulf South Conference softball double-header action on Saturday. The Lions took game one 20-4, and came from behind to win game two 13-2.
North Alabama extends its win streak to 14 games, improving to 31-4 overall and 15-2 in the GSC. West Alabama drops to 10-17 and 3-14.
The Lions scored in all five innings of game one. They capitalized on a Tiger error that allowed two runs to get on the board first in the top of the first inning. Madeline Lee stole home to add another run in the second before her team's offense went on a six run rally in the third.
Trailing 9-0 in the bottom of the third,
Kristen Bittle scored on a wild pitch to put UWA on the board.
Audrey Diekmann followed up with a three run home run over left-center field to cut North Alabama's lead to 9-4. For Diekmann, it was her fifth homer of the year and tied her with
Libby Davis as the team leader.
The Tiger's momentum was short lived as UNA added eight more runs in the ensuing inning. Lee tallied her fourth run of the game in the fifth with a home run of her own that was the first of the Lion's final three runs. She finished 3-of-3 with one RBI and a double. Four Lions tallied three runs, one of whom was Harlie Barkley who led with four RBI, hitting 4-of-5 with two doubles.
Hillary Carpenter (15-2) struck out seven batters and walked two to take the win in game one. She allowed four earned runs and only one hit.
Amanda Medders (3-8) took the loss allowing six earned runs and 18 hits.
The Tigers took a 2-0 lead going into the fourth inning.
Libby Davis brought in a run on a double in the second, while Bittle had an RBI single in the third.
UNA tied the score with two runs in the fourth before Courtney Shields homered in the fifth to give the Lions its first lead of the game. Leading 4-2 in the sixth, North Alabama went on a nine run streak, which included back-to-back home runs from Shields and Reagan Tittle, to secure the final victory.
Shields finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBI. Tittle went 2-for-4 with three runs and an RBI. Davis finished 3-of-4 for the Tigers.
Raven Cole (15-1) struck out seven hitters and walked four and allowed eight hits to pick up the victory in the circle.
Andrea Edmonds (5-4) took the loss with eight earned runs and 11 hits.
The series will conclude with game three on Sunday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
