LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama softball team continues its home slate this weekend with a three-game series against No. 25 Montevallo.
Game One is slated for Friday at 5:00 p.m., while Games Two and Three are set for 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.
West Alabama (17-4-1, 8-1 GSC) enters the weekend after extending its win streak to six games with a three-game series sweep over Valdosta State. No. 25 Montevallo (20-5, 5-4 GSC) comes into the weekend after winning its series against UAH.
Winners of six straight games and 14 of their last 15, the Tigers made their debut in the NFCA Coaches Poll this week, receiving votes for the first time this season. Pitching continues to be the strength of UWA's team, as all three of their main arms in Eleanor De Block, Megan Roe, and Ann Marie Stanbridge have ERAs under 2.00. As a team, West Alabama owns a 1.75 ERA, which leads the GSC and ranks seventh in the country.
De Block enters the weekend arguably pitching better than anyone in the region over the past couple of weeks. Over her last six appearances, De Block has posted a 0.52 ERA across 27.0 innings of work. Along with that impressive mark, the senior has struck out 29 batters while allowing just 11 hits. With her recent performances, De Block now holds a 10-4 record and a 1.60 ERA and is expected to get the ball for the Tigers in Game One on Friday.
Roe and Stanbridge have also been excellent in 2026. The duo is a combined 7-0 on the season with a 1.94 ERA in 79.2 innings pitched.
The pitching trio of De Block, Roe, and Stanbridge will look to stifle a Montevallo offense that has been one of the top units in the GSC this season.
West Alabama's offense, led by Haley Shannon, Ann Marie Stanbridge, Ella Watson, and Kayla Morris, will look to keep pace with the Falcons. Shannon leads the team with a .392 batting average and enters the weekend after hitting .556 last week against the Blazers. Stanbridge continues to provide a steady presence in the middle of the order with a .328 batting average, while Watson and Morris are tied for the team lead in home runs with six.
Montevallo entered the NFCA Top 25 this week, coming in as the No. 25 team in the country. The Falcons bring plenty of power at the plate, hitting 26 home runs as a team, which ranks second in the GSC. In the circle, Montevallo holds a 2.05 team ERA.
Offensively, Taylor Rogers, Becca Benton, and Bentlee Stiner lead the Falcons. Rogers is the reigning GSC Player and Freshman of the Week after recording 12 hits in five games. The freshman outfielder leads Montevallo with a .413 average along with four home runs, 18 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases.
Benton is also off to a fast start in 2026, entering the weekend with a .375 batting average, 10 home runs, and 32 RBIs. She leads the conference in both home runs and RBIs and has been one of the most dangerous hitters in Montevallo's lineup.
Stiner ranks second on the team in both home runs and RBIs, blasting five home runs and driving in 23 runs. The senior is also hitting .345 on the season, forming a talented trio with Rogers and Benton in the Falcons' order.
In the circle, Taylor Lloyd serves as the Falcons' ace. Lloyd is 13-2 on the year with a 1.59 ERA, the second-lowest mark in the GSC. Kinsey Byrd and Berkley Mooney have combined to throw 62.1 innings while maintaining ERAs under 3.00.
This weekend's series between West Alabama and Montevallo is one of the most anticipated matchups of the weekend. If the Tigers can win the series, they could see a ranking next to their name in next week's edition of the NFCA Coaches Poll.
First pitch for Game One is set for 5:00 p.m., while Games Two and Three are scheduled for 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.
