Crossover Central
DECATUR,
Ala. – Kelli Hartley went 3-for-4 with a
pair of towering home runs as the University of
West Alabama softball team powered its way past
Delta State 6-3, on Saturday at the Gulf South
Conference Crossover at Wilson Morgan Park.
The Tigers
improved to 32-7 overall and 6-5 in GSC play,
while DSU falls to 17-13, 6-5 in the conference.
UWA pounded
out ten hits against DSU pitching, including
four hits in its two-run third that broke a 1-1
deadlock. After base hits from Ashley Edgar and
Jessica Powell, Valisha Fincher drilled a double
just inside the first base line, scoring Edgar.
Hartley slapped her second of three hits down
the right field line, plating Powell to extend
the lead to 3-1. Both teams exchanged runs in
the fourth and fifth innings. The Red and White
posted an unearned run in the fourth as Laura
Bagwell crossed the plate after a Lady Statesmen
fielding miscue. Bagwell led off the frame with
a walk and pushed to second on a sacrifice bunt
off the bat of Angela Smith. UWA’s fifth and
sixth runs came by way of Hartley long balls in
consecutive at bats. The Northport, Ala.-
second baseman drilled one to dead center in the
fifth and towered a round tripper down the left
field line in the seventh. She now has 11 home
runs on the season.
DSU trimmed
the deficit down to two runs on two occasions
after adding runs in the fourth and fifth. The
Green and White threatened for more in the fifth
with the bases loaded, but UWA’s Brittany McGee
dodged anymore damage with an inning-ending
double play from shortstop Courtney Gordon.
McGee picked up the win in relief with a pair
of innings pitched before giving way Jessica
Cervantes in the seventh for her 11th
save of the season. With her 11th save,
Cervantes tied the NCAA Division II record for
saves in a season. UAH's Jenny Hess posted
11 saves during the 2006 season.
UWA starter
Aubree Hudson tossed 3 2/3 innings pitched,
striking out three in the outing. DSU took the
early 1-0 lead in the top of the first with a
solo home run by Brittany Eiker. After Eiker’s
dinger, Hudson settled down to retire the next
eight batters until Eiker returned to the plate
and slapped a single to left in the fourth.
The Tigers return to the
diamond on Sunday, April 5 at 10 a.m. against
Arkansas Tech, followed by a Noon affair with
Ouachita Baptist. Thursday’s games that were
postponed due to rain have been moved to Monday,
April 6.
