JACKSON, Tenn. – West Alabama softball split a Gulf South Conference double header with Union, falling 11-3 in the first game before taking a 5-0 victory in the nightcap at the Fesmire Softball Field on Friday.
The Tigers move to 17-17 overall and 8-9 in the league, while the Lady Bulldogs now sit at 17-14 on the year and 5-12 in the GSC.
"We battle ourselves every time we play," UWA head coach Carie Dever-Boaz said. "They threw the same pitcher who no-hit us in the first game, and we run her from the second game. Nothing really changed except for our approach."
"Our defense and pitching weren't sharp, and our hitting was horrific. It all goes back to the fact that there are three aspects to this game, and you have to execute at least two of them to have a chance to come out on top."
After three scoreless frames, Union opened up with back-to-back, multiple-run innings in the fourth and fifth en route to an 11-3, Game 1 victory.
Gabby Morris drove Hannah Ridolfi, who reached on a lead-off single, around on a one-bagger before Haley Barnette pushed Morris across the plate on the next at-bat with a single up the middle to put the Lady Bulldogs ahead 2-0.
Later in the inning, LaDesha Nelson picked up two runs-batted-in on a double to right center, extending the Union lead to 4-0. Rachel Ridolfi widened the gap to 5-0, driving Nelson across the plate on a single right field.
West Alabama responded in the top of the fifth as Abby Mckee touched home after
Brianna Buie's fly ball to right field was mishandled.
Audrey Diekmann and
Bree Thompson each walked in a run to cut the deficit to 5-3.
However, Union would use seven hits to score six runs in the bottom of the frame, starting with an RBI double to left center off the bat of Ashely Scott.
Three batters later, Hailey Cummings scored Scott on a single through the left side, pushing UU out to a 7-3 lead.
Paige Robertson earned an RBI with a double to left center, while R. Ridolfi singled Robertson home to extend the Lady Bulldog lead to 9-3. Emily Bennet sealed the deal with a two-RBI triple down the left field line.
H. Ridofli, R. Ridofli, Barnette and Nelson each tallied two hits to lead Union batters. Bennet, Scott, Morris, Cummings and Robertson each chipped in a hit apiece.
H. Ridofli earns the win in Game 1, tossing five hitless innings while sitting down four Tiger batters.
Andrea Edmonds takes the loss, giving up five runs on six hits in 3.2 innings of work.
"It's frustrating as a coach, but we are a young team. We are always learning, and we don't give up. It's really easy to roll over after getting run-ruled, but we came back fighting. Anytime I can have a team that's ready to go to battle, I'm ready to go."
"I like the way the kids made adjustments in the second game. They threw three different pitchers, and I think that's harder to adjust to than seeing the same girl."
West Alabama struck early in Game 2, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as
Allison Craft tripled to right field, driving home
Jenna Goldsmith, who reached on a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Ashley Smart.
"Even in the last game, we didn't base run well, and I think that cost us some runs," Dever-Boaz said. "But, we didn't let that take us out and we just kept coming right back at them."
A defensive struggle ensued over the following three frames, ending in the West Alabama fifth as Craft earned her second RBI of the game with a double to center field, extending the Tiger lead to 2-0.
Kierra Hague pushed Craft across the plate three batters later, singling to center field before advancing to second on the attempt to throw Craft out at home.
Ashlend Rodriguez drove in two more runners on a two-out single, ending the scoring at a final 5-0.
Craft and Rodriguez paced the Tigers with two hits and two RBIs each. Hague also totaled two hits, while Diekmann and Buie each recorded hits in the win. Bennet, H. Ridolfi, Barnette and Nelson each posted one of the Lady Bulldogs' four hits.
Edmonds (13-13) earns the win in the nightcap, disallowing a run on four hits in her 13
th complete game of the season. H. Ridofli (10-7) takes the loss, giving up five runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings pitched.
The Tigers and Lady Bulldogs will wrap up the GSC series on Saturday with Game 3 set to get underway at 1 p.m.
