LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The West Alabama softball squad bounced back in a huge way on Saturday afternoon at the UWA Softball Complex, defeating West Georgia in a doubleheader sweep, 15-1 and 16-8 behind six home runs to clinch the home series.
GAME 1: West Alabama 15, West Georgia 1 (5 innings)
The Tigers were all gas with no brakes right out of the gate, scoring nine runs in the first inning and sent 12 batters to the dish.
Makayla Register walked Kelsie Gilliam and Taylor Clegg in with no outs in the first inning, giving UWA the 2-0 advantage before contacting the ball.
An Emily Cowart sacrifice fly scored run number three in the next at-bat.
Riley Sullivan began her explosive day from the plate immediately after, hitting a three-run homer to make it a 6-0 ball game.
Batting around in the opening frame, Gilliam added another run on with a triple to left center.
Clegg wouldn't be outdone, smashing a two-run homer in the next at-bat, stretching the lead out to 9-0.
The Wolves scored their first run of the day in the top of the second with a Madison Vandergriff solo home run.
Stanbridge joined in on the home run derby in the bottom of the inning, hitting a rocket over the left field wall to get UWA to double digits in the run column.
Mitchell added two more runs for the Tigers in the bottom of the third inning with a single that sent Gilliam and Sara Fargo home, making it a 12-1 contest.
Sullivan put the cherry on top in the bottom of the fourth with her second three-run home run of the contest.
Madison Wright was lights out in the game one routing, striking out nine batters and allowing the lone tally in the complete game, run-rule victory.
Riley Sullivan batted in a career-high six runs.
GAME 2: West Alabama 16, West Georgia 8 (6 innings)
West Georgia came out swinging early in game two, with a Rylee Green RBI single to center field sending Megan Waites home to take the 1-0 lead.
Marissa Mitchell answered back in the bottom of the first, hitting a two-run rocket over the right field wall, giving West Alabama the 2-1 advantage.
After shutting down UWG in the top of the second, UWA added to its lead with yet another Riley Sullivan dinger and a Kelsie Gilliam RBI single, making it a 4-1 ballgame.
Madison Vandergriff cut the Tiger lead to two with a double to right center, allowing R.J. Janke to advance home on the throw.
Emily Cowart tacked on two more runs for West Alabama in the bottom of the third, hitting a two-run double to right center to make it a 6-2 contest.
West Georgia answered back in the top of the fourth, taking a 7-6 lead with assistance from a West Alabama error and a trio of RBIs from Blaire Bizette, R.J. Janke and Vandergriff.
In the bottom of the inning, the Wolves walking woes came back to haunt them again, giving the lead back to the Tigers, 8-7, by walking Sullivan and Mary Grace Sheffield with the bases loaded.
UWA extended their lead to three, 10-7, with a Cowart RBI single and a fielding error that sent Sheffield home.
In the fifth, the Tigers added on three more runs with a pair of RBIs from Sheffield and Stanbridge, with a wild pitch sending Stanbridge home, making it a 14-7 game.
Taylor Clegg finished off the Wolves with a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth, run-ruling West Georgia for the second time in as many games.
"The offense came alive today. We had good at-bats and timely hits. The team effort was awesome, and Maddie pitched very well," said head coach Stephanie Defeo.
Madison Wright (12-5) earned the win as she struck out five more batters and 2.2 innings in relief of Eleanor De Block, putting her two-game total at 12 strikeouts.
Emily Cowart led the charge in game two with three RBIs.
West Alabama moves to 19-11 and 8-9 in GSC play. West Georgia falls to 11-21 and 4-10.
The Tigers and Wolves will conclude the series Sunday afternoon at the UWA Softball Complex. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m.
