DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The University of West Alabama Softball team split Day One of the Daytona Beach Invitational, defeating Southern Wesleyan, 4-3, before falling to Tampa, 5-4, on Friday.
West Alabama ( 3-2-1) hit .254 on the day while holding a 3.07 team ERA, turning in two competitive outing against Southern Wesleyan (1-3) and Tampa (2-2).
GAME ONE: West Alabama 4, Southern Wesleyan 3
Eleanor De Block got the start to begin the weekend for the Tigers and registered her second complete game of the year, going all seven innings.
De Block dodged trouble in the first inning before her offense gave her the lead in the bottom half. Haley Shannon led the Tigers' side off with a bunt single and was later brought home by Ella Watson via an RBI-Single.
De Block shut down Southern Wesleyan's offense over the next two innings, keeping the score at 1-0. In the bottom of the third, Watson collected her second RBI-single of the game before Kayla Morris drove in Watson with an RBI-Double. To conclude a three-run inning, Sha'Keria Washington drove in Trinity Hatcher to make it a 4-0 game in favor of West Alabama.
Holding on to a 4-0 lead in the fifth, De Block ran into a bit of trouble. The senior allowed her first run in the ball game in the fifth inning as Reagan Fulcher singled home a run to cut UWA's lead to three.
In the following inning, the Warriors pushed two more runs across courtesy of an RBI-single from Abby Schreiner and a sacrifice fly from Harley Hoffman, making it a one-run game late.
De Block remained in the game for the final inning and retired Southern Wesleyan's side in order to secure a 4-3 win.
De Block accumulated a pitching line of 7 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 7 SO. At the plate for the Tigers, Watson and Morris both collected two hits and combined for three RBIs.
GAME TWO: Tampa 5, West Alabama 4
Megan Roe got the ball against the Spartans and went 5.0 innings, allowing just two earned runs.
In the first inning, West Alabama failed to capitalize on their opportunities, leaving three runners on base after a couple of singles and a walk. Tampa managed to score an unearned run, taking an early 1-0 lead. The second inning saw both teams go scoreless, with the Tigers recording one hit and the Spartans being retired in order.
The third inning featured a shift in momentum for the Spartans, as Makiah Brumbelow's RBI double extended their lead to 2-0, though West Alabama managed to keep the damage minimal.Â
In the fourth inning, UWA was unable to generate offense despite a double from Lee Lott, while the Spartans also went scoreless, maintaining their 2-0 advantage.
A breakthrough came for West Alabama in the fifth inning, with Daphne Fowler scoring on a wild pitch and Watson crossing the plate on a subsequent play, leveling the score at 2-2. Tampa couldn't respond in the bottom half, keeping the score tied.Â
The sixth inning saw the Spartans reclaim the lead with two runs, making it 4-2, as West Alabama couldn't add to their tally.
In the seventh inning, the Tigers showed resilience. Morris and Carolyn Cagle drove in runs, tying the game at 4-4. However, in the bottom half of the inning, Tampa's Kinnah Kreidler hit a walk-off Home Run, securing a 5-4 victory for the Spartans.
Watson scored two runs and added two hits while stealing three bases. Morris recorded a double, drove in one run, and scored once. Cagle collected two hits and one RBI.
West Alabama will resume action on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. with a matchup against Georgia College, followed by a contest at 4:30 p.m. against Embry-Riddle.
