SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – The University of West Alabama softball team dropped its Gulf South Conference Tournament opener, 8-0 to GSC West No. 1 Arkansas Tech on Friday morning at Southaven’s Greenbrook Softball Complex.

The Tigers (42-17), who are in the eight-team field for the first time since 1997, will face Delta State on Saturday, May 2, in an elimination game.  First pitch is set for 9:30 a.m. The game will be carried on WZNJ 106.5 and streamed on athletics.uwa.edu.  The Lady Statesmen dropped a 5-1 decision to GSC East No. 2 UAH on Friday.

UWA and the Golden Suns played scoreless ball for two complete innings before ATU scratched an un-earned run on the board in the bottom of the third.  After ATU’s Kacie Visinia led off the third with a single and pushed to second on a sacrifice, she scored from second on a throwing error by UWA hurler Brittany McGee.

ATU starter Casey Hammons (20-6) hand cuffed the Tiger line up, as senior Courtney Gordon registered the lone hit in the contest.  The Columbus, Miss.-product started the fifth with a single up the middle, but was left stranded at second after back-to-back grounds outs to second to end the threat.  Hammons pitched around three walks in the contest and fanned five in a complete game shutout.  The scoreless showing by UWA was just the fourth time this season it has been shutout by the opposition.

The Golden Suns’ (41-20) bats got contagious in the fifth after stringing together six hits to push seven runs across in the inning to close out the game.  ATU touched McGee for three-straight singles to get the wheels turning for the Green and Gold.  Sarah Pratt’s single started the scoring carousel.  Shanda Jimerson, Tiphani Moon, Roxie Palacios all collected RBIs in the frame along with Taylor Gates’ two-RBI single to left center.  Stephanie Lasley’s fielder’s choice, scoring Hammons on the play ended the contest. 

ATU moves on in the winner’s bracket, as it faces UAH at 5 p.m. on Friday.

McGee (15-7) was saddled with the loss after tossing 4 1/3 innings before giving way to Jessica Cervantes.  ATU touched McGee for six hits and five runs.  Cervantes allowed three hits and three runs.  

UWA and DSU will be meeting for the second time this season, as UWA topped the Green and White, 6-3 at the GSC Crossover in Decatur, Ala.  Saturday’s meeting will be the fourth time the two GSC programs have met in the post season with UWA having the upper hand with a pair of wins.