BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – West Alabama combined for 18 runs on 25 hits, including a grand slam from
Audrey Diekmann as West Alabama softball defeated Miles College 8-2 in game one and 10-6 in game two to sweep the cross-conference double header at A.H. Parker High School on Wednesday.
With the wins, The Tigers move to an even .500 on the season, improving to 7-7 overall while the Golden Bears fall to 1-12.
"I told the girls 'I don't think we are used to being a good team," UWA head coach Carie Dever-Boaz said. "'When you're a good team, it's very easy to drop down and play to the level of your opponent.'"
"We are a very free-swinging team – a really aggressive team – and I thought kids were given opportunities today who hadn't yet had the chance."
Miles jumped out to a quick start in game one, driving two runs into score on a double by Kathryne Lambert in the bottom of the first. However, West Alabama took control of the game in the next half inning as Diekmann launched a grand slam over the right field fence to give the Tigers a 4-2 lead.
UWA tacked on a run in the fifth as
Ashlend Rodriguez took advantage of Diekmann's attempt to steal second, crossing the plate on the throw down to the short stop.
The Tigers brought three more runs around in the sixth frame, starting with a two-run blast from
Savannah Smathers. Diekmann scored the final run, crossing the plate as
Jenna Goldsmith kept the Miles defense busy a she got caught in a pickle between first and second base.
"I thought Diek did a great job of taking what she was given," Dever-Boaz said. "She really opened up that game with the grand slam, and they weren't going to throw to her the rest of the day."
Diekmann batted 1.000 with three appearances at the plate, picking up four runs-batted-in while scoring two runs herself and drawing a walk.
Sarah Beth King went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Lambert's two-RBI double came on her only hit of the game.
Andrea Edmonds (5-5) earns the win, allowing two runs while striking out seven batters. Brea Reese (0-4) takes the loss, giving up five runs and walking two in four complete innings.
"We made some great plays defensively, but our pitchers struggled a little," Dever-Boaz said. "We had some hitters struggle, but those that did struggle worked through it."
The Golden Bears struck first in game two as well, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a two-run homer by Lambert.
The Tigers evened the score in the third as an RBI-single from Goldsmith drove
Ashley Smart home and loaded the bases. An errant attempt to catch
Kierra Hague in the force-out at second base allowed Diekmann to cross the plate.
AC Storey put UWA in front 3-2 with an RBI-single in the top of the fourth. However, Miles re-took the lead in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI-double from Kendall Burrell, who later scored on a wild pitch.
West Alabama took a lead they would not relinquish, adding three runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth for a 10-4 lead. Miles cut the deficit to four runs, driving two around in the sixth.
Hague, King, Smart and Storey each posted two hits, while Smathers and Smart each grabbed two-baggers.
Abby McKee, Goldsmith and Smart each posted two RBIs, and Storey drove in one run. Smathers crossed the plate three times. Hague and Smart touched home twice.
Lambert continued to lead the Golden Bears, driving in two runs and scoring twice on two hits with one home run. Victoria McDaniel, Jordan Jones and Davis Watkins each chipped in doubles.
Ashley Stassin (2-2) earns the win, giving up six runs and sitting three down in five complete innings of work. Reese (0-5) takes the loss, allowing five runs in one complete inning.
"This was as good as a practice for us because it showed us what we need to work on," Dever-Boaz said. "I don't care who we are playing; our enemy will always be ourselves."
The Tigers will return to Livingston, Alabama, for a three-game, Gulf South Conference series against Mississippi College (8-6, 2-1), beginning with a double header on Saturday. First pitch at the UWA Softball Complex is set for noon.
