LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama softball team is set to host the Valdosta State Blazers for a three-game GSC series at the UWA Softball Complex beginning Friday.
First pitch for Game One is slated for 1 p.m. Friday, with Game Two to follow approximately 30 minutes later. The series will conclude Saturday with Game Three set for 1 p.m.
West Alabama (14-4-1, 5-1 GSC) enters the weekend atop the GSC standings after sweeping Christian Brothers this past weekend. Valdosta State (9-7, 5-1 GSC) is tied for first in the conference with the Tigers and enters the series after winning two out of three against UAH.
Through 19 games, the strength of UWA's team has been its pitching. The Tigers enter the weekend carrying a 1.82 ERA, which leads the GSC and ranks ninth in the country.
Eleanor De Block leads the charge with a 1.70 ERA in 53.2 innings of work. The senior is the reigning GSC Pitcher of the Week after throwing two complete-game shutouts against Christian Brothers this past weekend. De Block will start Game One for West Alabama, with Megan Roe slated to start Game Two. Roe is 5-0 on the year with a 2.03 ERA in 48.1 innings. Ann Marie Stanbridge rounds out the rotation with a 1.88 ERA in 22.1 innings.
At the plate, UWA continues to heat up. The Tigers are batting .269 as a team and now have five players hitting above .300 in their lineup. Haley Shannon leads the team with a .369 average in the leadoff spot, while Stanbridge follows closely behind with a .350 average and 10 RBIs.
In the middle of the order, Ella Watson carries a .321 average along with five home runs and 18 RBIs, remaining one of the top bats in the Tigers' lineup. Trinity Brooks missed last weekend due to a hamstring injury but has raised her average to .300 and serves as a "second leadoff hitter" near the bottom of UWA's order.
True freshman Kayla Morris is sending shockwaves through the conference. Morris is the reigning GSC Freshman of the Week after hitting .455 with three home runs and nine RBIs against Christian Brothers last weekend. The third baseman hit a home run in all three games, including a grand slam in Game Three to put the contest out of reach. Morris now leads the team with six home runs and 20 RBIs. The freshman is red-hot at the moment and elevates UWA's offense when she's in the lineup.
After beginning the season 1-5, Valdosta State has caught fire, winning eight of their last 10 games. The Blazers are off to a 5-1 start in conference play with series wins over Trevecca Nazarene and No. 25 UAH.
VSU is batting .284 as a team and has blasted 22 home runs, the third most in the GSC. Saylor McNearney has been the most productive bat in the lineup for Valdosta State. The senior infielder is hitting .367 with a team-high six home runs. However, five of McNearney's home runs have been solo shots, as she has driven in just eight RBIs this season.
Senior outfielder Evie Pitts leads the team with a .381 average, while Jayme Prandine has driven in a team-high 11 runs. Sophomore Chloe Eichelberger has been in and out of the lineup for VSU, but she has earned more opportunities recently, hitting .500 with three home runs and eight RBIs in 22 at-bats.
In the circle, the Blazers are allowing five earned runs per game. Redshirt senior Savannah Barfield and junior Madison VanAllen lead the pitching staff. Barfield is 4-1 on the season with a team-best 3.23 ERA in 30.1 innings. VanAllen holds a 3.98 ERA but has struggled with command, walking 12 batters in 19.1 innings.
First pitch for Friday's doubleheader between West Alabama and Valdosta State is set for 1 p.m., while Saturday's series finale is also scheduled for 1 p.m.
