LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama Softball team is set to open up their 2026 home schedule on Friday with a 5:00 p.m. doubleheader against Emmanuel College.

West Alabama (5-3-1) enters Friday's doubleheader after putting together a 3-2 record at the Daytona Beach Invitational. The Tigers defeated Southern Wesleyan and Georgia College & State on the weekend while falling to No. 4 Tampa and Embry-Riddle. 

As for Emmanuel (0-4), they come into play after dropping their first four games of the year with losses coming to Clark Atlanta and Anderson.

Through nine games, UWA has been spectacular inside the circle, bringing a 2.03 Team ERA into the weekend. Megan Roe currently leads the Tigers with a 1.83 ERA while West Alabama's ace, Eleanor De Block, carries a 2.39 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP into Friday's contest. De Block and Roe have accumulated a combined 49.1 innings and will most likely record a bulk of the innings on Friday.

At the plate, Haley Shannon, Ann Marie Stanbridge, and Ella Watson are hitting over .300 for the Tigers. Shannon has been West Alabama's lead-off hitter and for good reason as the junior leads the team with a .393 batting average. Shannon is a pure contact hitter and is one of the best bunters in the league, constantly getting on base for the middle of the order. As for Stanbridge, she's arguably the best overall hitter in UWA's lineup. The senior is the Tigers' three-hole hitter and brings a batting average of .357 into Friday's play. Watson has emerged as a power bat in West Alabama's offense as she leads the team with two Home Runs and seven RBIs. The sophomore hit .412 across five games last weekend and looks to keep her hot streak going against the Lions on Friday.

West Alabama's offense has struggled as a whole to begin the year, batting .242 through the first nine games. The Tigers have a great opportunity to get on track offensively against an Emmanuel team that has struggled in the circle this season.

Through their first four games of the year, the Lions have compiled a 8.62 Team ERA which is second to last in the Conference Carolinas. Quinn Overby and Autumn Matherly have accumulated the most innings for Emmanuel, with both holding ERAs over 10.00. Addison Hendrix and Reagan Beagle have been solid, holding ERAs well under 2.00, but neither has accumulated over 6.0 innings thus far.

Offensively, Emmanuel hasn't been much better, holding a .230 team batting average. Arlie Gooden is currently leading the team with a .308 batting average while Ciara Passmore is hitting .300 in 10 at bats. The Lions have only recorded five extra base hits, with one being a Home Runs through 100 at bats.  

First pitch between West Alabama and Emmanuel is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. with Game Two slated to begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game One.