Game 1 Box/Game 2 Box

FLORENCE, Ala. – The University of West Alabama softball team dropped a pair of hard-fought losses Friday afternoon to North Alabama as the Tigers fell in the opener, 2-1 in 10 innings and then lost the second contest 7-6 in nine innings in a Gulf South Conference series at the UNA Softball Complex.

Emily White (8-12) started on the mound for the Tigers. She pitched nine innings, giving up two runs (both unearned) on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

West Alabama (22-25 overall, 1-11 GSC) had a few chances to break the scoreless tie before going into extra innings in the opener.

With one out in the top of the fifth inning, Alisha Berry singled to left field and Laura Bagwell was hit by a pitch to move Berry to second. Sheila Jordan advanced the runners to second and third on a sacrifice bunt, but Shannon Goggins struck out swinging to end the inning.

In the sixth inning, the Tigers again had a chance to break the scoreless tie.

With two outs, Jennifer Lillard singled up the middle and advanced to third on a base hit to right field by Corey Curlee, who was 2-for-4. Merrifield reached on a fielder’s choice as Curlee was out at second to end the inning.

In the 10^th inning, Bagwell was placed at second due to the international tiebreaker rule. Jordan advanced Bagwell to third on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Heather Shugart hit an RBI single up the middle, scoring Bagwell to break the scoreless tie. Mary Wright pinch ran for Shugart and moved to second on a base hit through the left side by White. Lillard grounded out to the shortstop to end the inning.

In the bottom half of the inning, Kendall Miller was placed at second and stole third. Emily Beckwith doubled to right, scoring Miller from third to tie the game, 1-1. Kim Lee reached on a throwing error by West Alabama catcher Lillard, allowing Beckwith to advance to third and score the winning run on the play.

Berry, Bagwell, Jordan, White and Lillard each collected hits in the loss.

Stephanie Glienke (10-4) took the win for Lions, pitching 10 innings. She gave up a run, while scattering nine hits, while fanning six.

In the second game, Aubree Hudson pitched for the Tigers, working 2 2/3 innings. She gave up six runs (two earned) on six hits with four walks and a strikeout. Brittany McGee (3-3) took the loss, pitching 5 1/3 innings. She surrendered a run (unearned) on two hits.

The Tigers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Bagwell led off the game with a double to left and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jordan. With one out, Shugart doubled down the right-field line, scoring Bagwell from third. White struck out to end the scoring threat.

The Lions (26-12, 7-3) scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 lead.

Lindsey Greene singled through the right side to begin the inning and advanced to second on a Sarah Whitlow sacrifice bunt. Jessica Liddy singled up the middle, scoring Greene from second to tie the game, 1-1. Lindsey Bates walked, moving Liddy to second. Amy Goebel advanced both runners on a fly out to right. Maggi Eades singled through the left side, scoring Liddy from third, giving North Alabama a 2-1 lead.

North Alabama scored four runs on three hits and took advantage of a pair of errors to grab a 6-1 advantage.

Goebel reached on a fielding error by Bagwell, who was playing second base for the Tigers, to begin the third inning. Eades reached on a fielder’s choice as Goebel was out at second. Eades moved to second on a wild pitch and with two outs, Beckwith walked. Allie Pridmore singled through the right side, scoring Eades. Greene followed with a base hit to left, scoring Beckwith. Whitlow singled to right, plating Pridmore. After a pitching change, Liddy reached on a fielding error by Bagwell, allowing Greene to score. Bates grounded out to second to end inning.

West Alabama cut the deficit by scoring four runs on three hits in the top of the fifth inning.

Berry walked to begin the inning and scored on a two-out triple by Goggins. Shugart followed with an RBI single to left-center. White smacked a two-run home run, cutting the Lions lead to 6-5.

The Tigers rallied in the top of the seventh, scoring a run on one hit.

Bagwell opened the inning by reaching on an error and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jordan. Goggins, who went 2-for-5, doubled to right-center, plating the tying run. However, Shugart, who was 2-for-4, and White, who went 1-for-3, struck out to end the inning.

The Lions won the game by scoring a run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Goebel reached on a fielding error by White, who was playing at first base for the Tigers, and advanced to second on a throwing error by Bagwell. Eades followed with a base hit up the middle, scoring the winning run.

Megan Niesel started for the Lions, pitching five innings. She gave up five runs (all earned) on six hits, with three walks and four strikeouts. Sabrina Roberts (10-5) took the win, pitching four innings. She gave up a run (unearned) on one hit.

West Alabama continues on the road, traveling for a 12:00 p.m. series Saturday, April 7 at UAH.