FLORENCE, Ala. –The University of West Alabama softball team closed out its spring break road trip with a pair of Gulf South Conference setbacks to in-state rival North Alabama on Sunday. The Lions of UNA topped the Tigers 8-2 in the opener and turned back UWA 6-4 in the finale.

With the Tigers trailing 2-0 heading into the fifth inning, UWA (19-20, 1-9 GSC) put together a four-hit, four-run inning to take a brief 4-2 lead in the contest. After one out in the frame, Junior catcher Ashley Edgar reached base via a walk, followed by a Kelli Hartley double to left centerfield. Valisha Fincher plated both Edgar and Hartley with a single. Freshman centerfielder Angela Smith belted her second home run of the season with a two-run shot over the right field fence, giving UWA the 4-2 lead over the Lions. UNA scored two in the bottom half of the inning on a Jennifer Sharp RBI single. Sharp later crossed the plate to even the score on a UWA wild pitch.

UNA's Lindsey Bates broke the 4-4 deadlock in the sixth with a two-run double, scoring Lindsey Greene and Sarah Whitlow. Greene slapped a base hit up the middle to reach base while Whitlow reached base on a fielder's choice. With the sweep, the Lions improved to 18-14, 6-4 in conference play.

In the opener, all UWA runs came in the fourth inning after the first three batters in the inning reached base. Edgar led off the inning with a double followed by base hits from Fincher and Hartley. Fincher’s single plated Edgar while Hartley’s hit scored Fincher to even the game at 2-2. The Lions would take control of the affair with three runs in bottom of the fourth and another trio of runs in the sixth. UNA pitching silenced the Red and White bats the rest of the way, allowing just one hit in the final three frames. Junior shortstop Courtney Gordon opened the seventh with a single to break a string of nine consecutive batters sat down by the Purple and Gold.

The Tigers return home on Wednesday, April 2 with a doubleheader with Judson College. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. UWA welcomes GSC foe West Georgia on Friday, April 4.