CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The University of West Alabama Softball team swept their Saturday doubleheader against the Lee Flames to clinch a spot in the GSC Tournament.
UWA (32-10-1, 19-7 GSC) powered their way to their doubleheader sweep over Lee (17-31, 8-18 GSC), hitting four home runs on the day.
GAME ONE: UWA 6, LEE 2
The Tigers secured a decisive 6-2 victory over the Flames. Eleanor De Block went 6.0 innings, striking out six while allowing one earned runs on five hits.
The game began with Haley Shannon singling on a bunt, followed by Ann Marie Stanbridge doubling to drive in Shannon for the first run. Stanbridge later scored on a stolen base by Trinity Hatcher, giving West Alabama a 2-0 lead at the end of the first inning.
In the fourth inning, Lee got on the board and tied the game with two-run inning. Madison Pinzon recorded a sacrifice fly before Sadie Winsett scored off an error.
In the bottom half of the inning, La'taviona Parke stepped in as a pinch hitter and delivered an RBI single, allowing Hatcher to score, putting the Tigers back out in front, 3-2.
Parke continued her impactful performance in the sixth inning with a solo home run to right center, extending the lead to 4-2.
The seventh inning saw Shannon reach base with a single, setting up Stanbridge who hit a towering two-run homer. Stanbridge pitched the bottom of the seventh and held off the Flames to secure a 6-2 win in Game One.
Shannon recorded three hits and scored two runs in her game performance. Stanbridge contributed significantly with two hits, including a home run, and drove in three runs while also scoring twice. Parke added to the team's tally with a solo home run, finishing with two hits and one run scored.
GAME TWO: UWA 7, LEE 5
The Tigers out-hit the Flames 10-7, leveraging a strong early lead with a three-run second inning and maintaining their advantage throughout the game.
Megan Roe got the start and went all 7.0 innings to move to 12-1 on the year.
West Alabama began the game strong with a solo home run by Stanbridge, her second of the day, in the first inning, taking an early lead.
In the second inning, UWA expanded its lead with a series of strategic plays, starting with Kayla Morris doubling to left center. Carolyn Cagle reached on a fielder's choice, and with subsequent errors by the Flames, it allowed the Tigers to score three runs. Stanbridge added to the tally with a sacrifice fly, and Jessica Rose scored on a wild pitch.
Now trailing 4-0, Lee responded in the bottom of the third with three runs. Alyson Jarvi and Addi Lewis reached base before Addison Emmerson hit a three-run home run to cut UWA's lead to one.
Lee tied the game at four in the third inning courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Addi Lewis. West Alabama responded in the fourth with a two-run inning. Shannon drove in Cagle after the freshman began the inning with a leadoff double. Moments later, Stanbridge registered her third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly that scored Jessica Rose.
After Roe put up a zero in the bottom of the fourth, Trinity Hatcher added to West Alabama's advantage in the fifth inning with a solo home run to center field, bringing the score to 7–4.
In the seventh inning, the Flames attempted to comeback as Hailey Simco tripled to right center, driving in a run. However, West Alabama held on to secure the victory, 7-5.
Roe pitched a complete game, allowing five earned runs over 7 innings and striking out three batters. Stanbridge contributed significantly to the offense, hitting a home run and driving in three runs. Hatcher added a home run and an RBI, scoring once. Cagle scored twice and recorded one hit and an RBI.
West Alabama and Lee will conclude their series on Sunday with Game Three set for 12:00 p.m.
