DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The University of West Alabama Softball team split Day Two of the Daytona Beach Invitational, defeating Georgia College & State, 6-1, while falling to Embry-Riddle, 3-1, on Saturday.
West Alabama (4-3-1) hit .196 on the day while their pitching staff allowed nine hits on zero earned runs in contests against Georgia College (1-3) and Embry-Riddle (2-3).
GAME ONE: West Alabama 6, Georgia College 1
UWA rallied with consecutive two-run innings in the fifth, sixth, and seventh frames to overcome an early deficit, while their pitching staff limited the Bobcats to just four hits.
Ann Marie Stanbridge got the start against GCSU and went 5.0 innings to collect her first win.
Georgia College & State scored first, in the second inning, as a fielding error allowed the Bobcats to score an unearned run, giving them a 1–0 lead. Both teams remained scoreless in the third and fourth innings, with West Alabama managing a hit in the fourth but leaving a runner stranded.
In the fifth inning, the Tigers' offense ignited. Trinity Hatcher walked and stole second, setting the stage for Kayla Morris, who singled on a bunt. Lee Lott then reached on a throwing error, allowing both Hatcher and Morris to score, putting UWA ahead 2–1 after five innings. In the sixth, Ella Watson doubled and later scored on a sacrifice bunt from Hatcher. Morris followed with another sacrifice bunt that brought in Trinity Brooks, extending the lead to 4–1.
The seventh inning saw West Alabama solidify their lead. Haley Shannon singled and later scored on a single by Stanbridge. Watson also delivered a single that drove in another run, resulting in a 6–1 advantage. Georgia College was unable to respond in the bottom of the seventh as UWA cruised to a 6-1 victory.
Shannon recorded two hits and scored one run while adding a stolen base. Stanbridge pitched five innings, allowing four hits and one run, and picked up the win. Watson collected two hits, including a double, and drove in one run. Morris contributed with one hit and one RBI, along with a stolen base.
GAME TWO: Embry-Riddle 3, West Alabama 1
West Alabama managed four hits and three stolen bases, but a three-error performance proved costly against the Eagles' five-hit effort.
In the second inning, UWA capitalized on an error by the pitcher, allowing Hatcher to advance to second and eventually score on a bunt single by Carolyn Cagle. This early run gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead. The Eagles responded in the fourth inning with a single by Hayley McElroy, which drove in Ava Arnold following a passed ball, leveling the score at 1-1.
The game remained tied until the sixth inning when the Eagles took advantage of errors. With Riley Sullivan and Leah Oberkehr on base, a throwing error allowed both to score, putting Embry-Riddle up 3-1. West Alabama was unable to mount a comeback in the final inning, resulting in a 3-1 victory for the Eagles.
The Tigers will conclude the Daytona Beach Invitational with a 9:00 a.m. CST rematch against Georgia College & State on Sunday.
