OXFORD, Ala. — The University of West Alabama Softball team earned a dominant 7-3 win over No. 3 AUM on Thursday to advance to the GSC Semifinals.
The game was highlighted by an excellent start from Megan Roe and two home runs from Trinity Hatcher and Ann Marie Stanbridge, propelling No. 2 UWA (41-12-1) over No. 3 AUM (42-10).
The Tigers began the game a bit shaky defensively as capitalized on fielding errors to score two unearned runs.
However, West Alabama responded in the bottom of the second as Ella Watson tripled and then scored on a sacrifice fly by La'Taviona Parke to make it a 2-1 game in favor of the Warhawks.
In the third inning, Hatcher hit a solo home run, tying the game at two. UWA later took the lead in the fourth inning when Watson scored on a single by Carolyn Cagle.
The fifth inning saw the Tigers extend its lead. Trinity Brooks, pinch running for ShaKeria Washington, advanced to third on a single by Kayla Morris and scored on a throwing error. Morris' RBI-single extended West Alabama's lead to 4-2 by the end of the fifth.
UWA further widened the gap in the sixth inning. Alexis Parson came off the bench and delivered a big pinch-hit RBI-single to make it a 5-2 game. Moments later, Stanbridge launched a massive two-run homer, which was also the 50th of her career, bringing the score to 7-2 and providing the Tigers with more insurance.
Despite a late unearned run by the Warhawks in the seventh inning, Roe slammed the door on the Warhawks in the seventh to secure a 7-3 victory.
Stanbridge made a significant impact by hitting a home run and collecting two RBIs. Trinity Hatcher contributed with a home run and one RBI. Ella Watson scored two runs and added a triple to her performance. Roe delivered a complete game, allowing no earned runs and striking out three batters over 7 innings.
West Alabama now advances to the GSC Semifinals and will play the winner of No. 6 UAH/No. 5 Mississippi College on Friday at 6:00 p.m.
