LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama softball team split a doubleheader with Delta State University on Saturday afternoon at University Field, taking game one 5-3 and falling 3-2 in game two.
GAME 1: West Alabama 5, Delta State 3
With two Tiger runners in scoring position and no outs, a Marissa Mitchell groundout to the circle allowed Kelsie Gilliam to score the Tigers' first run.
The following at-bat, Taylor Clegg scored from third base off an Ann Marie Stanbridge sacrifice, giving the visitors the 2-0 advantage early in the first inning.
After Madison Wright took care of business in the bottom of the first inning, Mary Grace Sheffield hit a solo shot in the top of the second inning, extending the Tiger lead to 3-0.
Wright struck out two more in the bottom of the second, keeping the Lady Statesmen offense in check.
Clegg reached third off a Delta State error, allowing Gilliam to score from second base after hitting a double in the previous at-bat.
Mitchell took one for the team to extend the Tiger lead to 5-0, grounding out in the infield, allowing Clegg to score from third.
Delta State closed the gap in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs, capped off by a two-run homer by MyCala Helms to make it a 5-3 West Alabama lead.
Wright shut down the Statesmen with an Abby Cataldo strikeout the end the threat.
The Tigers kept the Lady Statesmen off the board for the rest of the game, as Wright retired 11 of the final 12 batters she faced, including retiring the final eight batters of the game.
Madison Wright's seven strikeouts and Mary Grace Sheffield's home run proved to be the difference for the UWA cause in game one.
GAME 2: Delta State 3, West Alabama 2
The Lady Statesmen struck first in game two, with Regan Stafford scoring in the bottom of the third to take the 1-0 lead.
Ann Marie Stanbridge answered back quickly with a leadoff solo homer at the top of the fourth inning, tying the contest at one apiece.
Taylor Clegg gave the Tigers the advantage in the top of the fifth inning with an RBI double, allowing Kelsie Gilliam to score, making it a 2-1 ballgame.
Delta State used a pair of sixth inning RBIs from Sydney Pevey and Bailey Way to take a 3-2 with the Tigers down to their final three outs.
Unfortunately, the Tigers went three-up three-down in the top of the seventh, leveling the series at one game apiece going into the series finale.
The Tigers stand at 17-10 on the year and 6-8 in Gulf South Conference play. Delta State moves to 6-22 and 2-8.
West Alabama and Delta State will conclude the series with a single game on Sunday afternoon at University Field. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m.
