LIVINGSTON, Ala. — The University of West Alabama softball team enters the final weekend of the regular season with a three-game series against Mississippi College, carrying significant championship implications.
Games one and two will be played Thursday, beginning at 3:00 p.m., while the series will conclude Friday with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m.
Prior to game one on Thursday, the Tigers will honor their three seniors, Eleanor De Block, Megan Roe, and Ann Marie Stanbridge. The Senior Day ceremony will begin at 2:38 p.m.
UWA (37-11-1, 22-8 GSC) enters the regular-season finale with an opportunity to clinch the GSC Regular Season Championship. West Alabama is currently in a three-way tie for first place with West Florida and AUM. The Tigers control their own destiny, as a sweep over Mississippi College would guarantee at least a share of the title.
With plenty at stake, West Alabama is playing its best softball of the season, led by several of the league's top players. In the circle, De Block has been virtually unhittable. The senior, and back-to-back GSC Pitcher of the Week, is 6-0 with a 0.34 ERA over her last six starts. Across her last 41.0 innings, the right-hander has allowed just two earned runs, strengthening her case for the GSC Pitcher of the Year award.
Roe is expected to start game two and will look to bounce back after her outing against UAH last weekend. At 13-2 with and a 2.86 ERA, she remains a strong candidate for All-GSC honors and can further solidify her case with a strong performance Thursday.
Offensively, Stanbridge continues to shine at the plate. She enters the weekend hitting .354 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs. Over her last 17 games, she is batting .521 with eight home runs and 19 RBIs. Ella Watson, Kayla Morris, and Trinity Hatcher provide a blend of power and contact, helping UWA total 55 home runs which is the second most in the GSC.
Mississippi College brings a balanced roster into Livingston. The Choctaws are hitting .299 as a team with 40 home runs while posting a 3.44 ERA in the circle.
MC has compiled a strong season and currently sits fifth in the GSC, highlighted by key wins over Montevallo and AUM. Last weekend, the Choctaws snapped a four-game losing streak with a three-game sweep of Delta State, outscoring the Statesmen 27-8 over the three contest.
Megan Matheis, Shelby Samples, Ellie Fryar, and Blakely Gill lead Mississippi College offensively. Matheis paces the team with a .413 batting average to go along with four home runs and 28 RBIs, while Samples is hitting .386 with four homers and 30 RBIs. Fryar, the reigning GSC Player of the Week, hit .615 with three home runs during MC's sweep of Delta State. She now carries a .368 average with a team-high nine home runs and 24 RBIs.
In the circle, Camryn Bailey has logged the most innings for the Choctaws, posting a 14-8 record with a 3.65 ERA. Reagan Rios leads the team with a 3.23 ERA and holds a 9-4 mark in 2026. AK Willingham and Grace Wallis provide depth out of the bullpen, combining for 82.1 innings with ERAs well under 4.00.
This final series presents a major opportunity for UWA. Not only to compete for a regular-season championship, but also to strengthen All-GSC résumés and build momentum heading into the postseason.
First pitch for game one is set for 3:00 p.m. Thursday, with game two to follow. The series finale is scheduled for Friday at 1:00 p.m.
