GULF SHORES, Ala. - The University of West Alabama softball team split its two-game slate on Saturday at the Gulf Shores Invitational as the Tigers defeated Lubbock Christian University 3-1. In the second game, the Tigers fell to the defending national champion University of North Georgia 11-2 in game two.
GAME 1, West Alabama 3, Lubbock Christian 1
Madison Wright headlined the Tigers' third straight victory to open the season with a 10-strikeout day against the Chaparrals of LCU.
Marissa Mitchell picked up right where she left off on day one with a home run in the first inning against Lubbock Christian to start day two.
The Chapparals answered back with a sacrifice fly by Riley Flores, allowing Sydney Bowlin to score from third to tie up the contest 1-1.
Madison Wright sent all three LCU batters packing in the bottom of the second, totaling four strikeouts in the first two innings.
Lubbock Christian found themselves at the cusp of taking the lead with two runners in scoring position with two outs in the bottom of the third, but Wright wasn't having it as she struck out Flores swinging to keep the LCU offense at bay.
Wright wrangled in two more in the bottom of the fourth, moving her strikeout total to six on the day.
The Tigers took back the lead in the top of the sixth inning as Emily Cowart hit a sacrifice bunt to the circle, allowing Taylor Clegg to score.
The Chapparals' Ally Oyanguren set up LCU in scoring position in the bottom of the sixth with a one-out double, but the Tigers defense stranded her with another Wright strikeout and a foul out to first base.
West Alabama put the nail in the coffin in the top of the seventh, as Mary Grace Sheffield scored off another sacrifice fly, this time from Kori Young, to set the Tigers up with a 3-1 lead going into the final stretch.
Wright completed her insane day in the circle retiring the Chapparals' final two batters and stranding Bailey Hughes on second to complete the victory.
GAME 2, No. 1 North Georgia 11, West Alabama 2
With West Alabama riding the high of victory from the day's first game, top-ranked North Georgia would sweep in to play spoiler, cruising by the Tigers 11-2.
The party started early for the defending champs as the Nighthawks scored five runs in the top of the first, capped off by a two-RBI double from Katie Ward.
Riley Sullivan gave the Tigers some life in the bottom of the second with a double to left center. Sullivan would steal home to get UWA on the board and cut the deficit to four.
With two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the third, Eleanor De Block walked, bringing Taylor Clegg in for West Alabama's second run, once again closing the gap.
The Nighthawks would finish the game by exploding for five more runs to put the nail in the coffin.
West Alabama falls to 3-1 on the year while North Georgia moves to 4-0.
UWA will close Gulf Shores Invitational play tomorrow against Spring Hill. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m.
