LIVINGSTON, Ala. — The University of West Alabama softball team continues its road slate this weekend with a three-game series against Union in Jackson, Tennessee.
Game one between the Tigers and Bulldogs is scheduled for Saturday at 12 p.m., with game two to follow approximately 30 minutes later. The series will conclude Sunday with game three set for 1 p.m.
West Alabama (20-7-1, 11-4 GSC) enters this weekend's series atop the GSC standings. UWA took two out of three against Delta State last weekend and come into the matchup against Union with some serious momentum. For the Bulldogs (13-17, 6-9 GSC), they come into the series after sweeping their midweek doubleheader against Miles on Wednesday.
Pitching and defense has been the foundation for West Alabama this season, but the offense stole the spotlight in last weekend's series win over Delta State. Led by ShaKeria Washington, the Tigers exploded for 25 combined runs in games two and three while recording 24 hits in 52 at-bats, resulting in a pair of run-rule victories.
Washington is one of the nation's hottest hitters and was named the GSC Player of the Week after batting .556 with four home runs and nine RBIs against Delta State. The catcher is now hitting .278 on the season and will be a key focus for the Bulldogs.
Haley Shannon has also been consistent at the top of the order, coming off a five-hit weekend and raising her average to .380. She continues to set the table for UWA's power hitters in Ann Marie Stanbridge, Ella Watson, and Kayla Morris. Stanbridge, Watson, and Morris are all hitting above .300, with Watson and Morris leading the team with seven home runs apiece. Trinity Hatcher has also emerged as a key contributor. After a slow start to the year, she is batting .579 with three home runs and nine RBIs over the last eight games.
In the circle, Eleanor De Block, Megan Roe, and Ann Marie Stanbridge have formed one of the top pitching trios in the region, combining for a 1.95 team ERA, the eighth-best mark in Division II. De Block is expected to start game one, followed by Roe in game two, with Stanbridge available in relief if needed. The trio will look to contain a Union offense that has been inconsistent throughout the 2026 season.
Despite its 13-17 record, Union has been solid at home with a 7-4 mark. Pitching has been the Bulldogs' strength, as they carry a 3.38 team ERA. Rylee Moore and Riley Vaughn both hold ERAs under 3.00, at 2.62 and 2.92, respectively.
West Alabama will likely face a rotation of Moore, Vaughn, and Emily Claire Felder, all of whom have logged at least 56 innings this season. Moore enters the weekend with a 3-7 record despite posting the team's best ERA, while Vaughn is 4-5 on the year.
Offensively, Union is batting .265 as a team and has hit just four home runs this season, resulting in a .337 slugging percentage which is the lowest in the GSC. Chloe Jones leads the Bulldogs at the plate, hitting .360 with all four of the team's home runs and a team-high 24 RBIs. Courtney Marler has also been a steady presence, batting .379 with a .404 on-base percentage.
For Union to pull off an upset, they will need to generate offense against a West Alabama pitching staff that has been difficult to solve all season.
First pitch for Saturday's opener is set for 12 p.m., with game two to follow approximately 30 minutes later. The series finale is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.
