FLORENCE, Ala. – North Alabama batters combined for 15 hits, including a pair of home runs as the Lions completed the Gulf South Conference sweep, defeating West Alabama softball 9-2 in Game 3 of the series at the UNA Softball Complex on Sunday.
 
The Lions improve to 19-10 overall, moving up to 9-6 in the league. The Tigers fall to 14-16 on the year, dropping to 7-8 in GSC action.
 
"Like I've said before, there are three aspects to this game – hitting, pitching and fielding – and I don't feel like we did any of them well," UWA head coach Carie Dever-Boaz said.
 
"When you kick the ball around in the first inning and don't make routine catches on fly balls, we set the tone by giving them a couple of runs we should have prevented."
 
Marissa Hancock put North Alabama on the board in the bottom of the first, driving in Bailey Nelson, who reached on a lead-off single three batters prior. The Lions tacked on another run in the frame, scoring Madison Daniel on a wild pitch to jump UNA in front 2-0.
 
Sydney Sanders and Shelby Woodard extended the UNA lead to 4-0 as each launched a solo shot over left field to kick-off the second and third innings, respectively.
 
"I liked how Shay (Borowiak) came in and shut some things down for us, and I though Abby (McKee) did a tremendous job pitching for us today," Dever-Boaz said. "If there's anything positive to take away from today, it was their performances."
 
Borowiak retired the next three UNA batters following the solo shot from Woodard in relief of starter Andrea Edmonds.
 
Borowiak allowed just one run on four hits through the fourth and fifth innings before a Lion hitting-explosion in the sixth brought Abby McKee to the circle for her collegiate pitching debut.
 
Bree Thompson earned her seventh RBI in just her fourth at-bat of the season, driving in Chelsea Lobitos on a ground out to third base in the top of the fifth. Ashley Smart drove in the final UWA run, singling through the left side to cut the deficit to 5-2.
 
McKee allowed two hits while facing six batters in the sixth inning, leading the Tigers out of the bases-loaded jam. The Lions would total four runs on six hits in the frame, pushing the lead to 9-2.
 
"We have a lot of work to do in a short period of time," Dever-Boaz said. "We have a day off before we go right back at it against Miles, so it's time to get back to work and hammer out the basics."
 
Kierra Hague led the Tigers at the plate with a pair of singles. Sanders paced UNA, posting three hits for two RBIs. Shollenberger and Woodard each tallied two hits for the Lions.
 
Hillary Carpenter (10-4) earns her second win of the series, giving up two runs on five hits while retiring five Tiger batters in her 12^th complete game on the season. Edmonds (10-12) takes the loss, allowing three earned runs on five hits in two innings of work.
 
The Tigers will return to Livingston, Alabama, for a non-conference double header against Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference-opposition Miles College on Tuesday. First pitch at the UWA Softball Complex is set for 2 p.m.