DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The University of West Alabama softball team scored 29 runs in two contests Sunday morning, defeating Eckerd 16-4 and Embry-Riddle 13-0, run-ruling both opponents.
GAME 1: West Alabama 16, Eckerd 4
The Tigers came out swinging right away in the first inning, scoring four runs in their first outing on offense, capped off by an Eckerd fielding error that allowed Ann Marie Stanbridge and Emily Cowart to score.
The Tritons responded in the bottom of the inning as a Lauren Margolis RBI double allowed Jadyn Wright to score, cutting the deficit to three.
The Tigers struck back by going on an offensive tear in the top of the second, scoring six runs off four hits, including yet another two-run homer from shortstop Marissa Mitchell.
After West Alabama extended their lead to 16-1 with another four-run burst in the top of the fifth, Eckerd would score three runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 12 with a three-run outing concluded by a West Alabama fielding error which allowed two Triton base runners to score, but it wouldn't be enough to avoid a five-inning ballgame.
Eleanor De Block moved to 3-0 on the year in the circle.
Marissa Mitchell hit her fourth home run of the season.
GAME 2: West Alabama 13. Embry-Riddle 0
The Tigers kept the same energy going into the second contest of the day, taking an early 2-0 lead in the second inning as Kori Young scored off a throwing error at third base, followed by another fielding miscue from the Eagles which allowed Madison Wright to score.
Ann Marie Stanbridge kicked off a nine-run third inning with a solo home run.
Exemplary hitting from West Alabama's Madison Wright and Taylor Clegg combined with Embry-Riddle's struggles with errors and controlling wild pitches allowed the Tigers to take a commanding 11-0 lead to conclude the third inning.
UWA put a cherry on top of their dominant victory in the top of the fifth inning with a Clegg RBI double followed by the Tiger third baseman stealing home.
Madison Wright earned her fourth win from the circle, allowing no runs from the Eagles and only two hits while also scoring two runs of her own.
UWA had five players score two runs in the contest.
West Alabama moves to 8-2 overall on the season and will open up conference play at Union on Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. in Jackson, Tennessee.
