LIVINGSTON, Ala. — The University of West Alabama Softball team swept their doubleheader against Mississippi College on Thursday behind two complete game shutouts from Eleanor De Block and Megan Roe on Senior Day.
UWA (39-11-1, 24-8 GSC) got phenomenal senior day starts from De Block and Roe who blanked MC (28-21-1, 18-14 GSC) over 16.0 innings. Offensively in Game One, Kayla Morris hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth inning while ShaKeria Washington was the hero in Game Two as the junior hit a Grand Slam to lift the Tigers to a 7-0 win.
GAME ONE: UWA 1, MC 0
In the first inning, West Alabama's Haley Shannon walked and advanced to third on Ann Marie Stanbridge's double, but the Tigers left three runners on base as the inning ended with no runs.
De Block blanked the Choctaws through seven innings, turning things back over to her offense with a chance to win the game.
In the bottom half of the seventh, Morris led off the inning with a double. West Alabama couldn't get Morris home as the game progressed to the eighth.
The decisive moment came in the ninth inning when Morris hit a walk-off solo home run to left field, propelling the Tigers to a 1-0 victory.
Morris led the offensive effort with a home run, a double, and collected two hits, driving in one run and scoring once. De Block delivered a complete game performance on the mound, pitching 9 innings and striking out six while allowing no earned runs. Stanbridge contributed with a double, adding to the team's offensive production with one hit.
GAME TWO: UWA 7, MC 0
West Alabama secured a decisive shutout victory against the Choctaws in Game Two.
In the second inning, Trinity Hatcher doubled to left field and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Washington. Morris singled on a bunt, driving in Hatcher for the first run. A throwing error allowed another run as Morris scored, making it 2-0 by the end of the inning.
The momentum continued in the third inning when Hatcher hit a solo home run to left center, extending West Alabama's lead to 3-0.
The fifth inning saw UWA break the game open. Alexis Parson walked and was replaced by pinch runner Jessica Rose, who advanced to third on subsequent plays. Hatcher walked to load the bases, and then Washington hit a grand slam to left field, pushing the score to 7-0.
West Alabama's pitcher, Megan Roe, delivered a complete game shutout, allowing six hits and striking out four MC batters over 7 innings.
Hatcher led the offense with three runs, two hits, one home run, and one double, contributing one RBI. Washington added a home run and drove in four RBIs while scoring once. On the mound, Roe pitched a complete game, allowing six hits with no runs and striking out four batters.
West Alabama and Mississippi College will conclude their series on Friday at 10:00 a.m. With a win, the Tigers will officially clinch at least a share of the GSC Regular Season Championship.
