LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The No. 13 University of West Alabama softball team was defeated by Valdosta State University in two contests Sunday afternoon at the UWA Softball Complex.
GAME 1: Valdosta State 11, West Alabama 9
Katie Proctor set the Lady Blazers on a high pedestal early, hitting a rocket over the left field wall with the bases loaded, giving the visitors a 4-0 lead.
The Tigers bounced back in a big way in the bottom of the second, scoring five runs capped off by a Taylor Clegg two-run home run, taking the 5-4 advantage.
However, it did not last long, as Abby Sulte and Aniston Gano joined in on the home run party in the third. Sulte hit a two-run homer, and two batters later, Gano went yard for a solo shot.
In the bottom half of the third, Mary Grace Sheffield reached second off a Valdosta State error that allowed Marissa Mitchell to cut the lead to one run, 7-6.
Despite the home team's efforts to close the gap, Morgan Hill's solo home run in the top of the fourth to stretch the Lady Blazer back to a two-run affair.
With the bats mostly quiet until the top of the seventh, the Blazers tacked on three more runs, capped by Gano's second homer of the game, for the 11-6 advantage.
Despite Mary Grace Sheffield and Kori Young cut the Valdosta lead to 11-9 with back-to-back RBI doubles, the Tigers threat ended on a flyout.
GAME 2: Valdosta State 14, West Alabama 3
The second contest started similarly to the first with Valdosta State taking a 4-0 lead courtesy of Abby Sulte and Katie Proctor home runs.
Emily Cowart put a dent in the Lady Blazer lead, advancing Marissa Mitchell home off a VSU error in the bottom of the second.
The visitors would get that run back, as a Jasmin Stewart RBI single made it a 5-1 lead.
Saylor McNearney joined in on the VSU home run derby, dumping a three-run shot over the fence.
Ahead 8-1, the Lady Blazers added six more runs to force the run-rule victory and take the series.
Despite the loss, the Tigers scored twice off a two-run single by Marissa Mitchell.
West Alabama falls to 14-9 overall and 5-7 in Gulf South Conference play. Valdosta State moves to 16-10 and 9-4.
The Tigers will stay home for a midweek doubleheader against Georgia Southwestern State on Tuesday. The first pitch is set for 3 p.m. at the UWA Softball Complex.
