LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama softball team is off to the best start in school history after moving to 12-1 on the season with a sweep of Judson College on Monday at a frosty UWA Softball Complex.  UWA topped the Eagles 11-3 in the opener and tied a school record for runs in a game with a 24-0 blanking of JC in the night cap.

UWA’s 1996 ballclub started the season 11-2 to post the best start to a campaign up until this year’s mark of 12-1.  The Monday twinbill was UWA’s first action since Sunday, Feb. 22 at the UAH Chillout.  The Tigers’ 24 runs in the second game equals the run output against West Georgia during the 1992 season, as the Red and White topped UWG, 24-1.

In the opener, JC posted a pair of early runs in the first inning off of UWA starter Aubree Hudson.  Ashley Glass drove in a pair of Eagles on a one-out double to right center.  After the first frame, Hudson (3-0) settled in and pitched four innings along with four strikeouts.  UWA registered runs in five of the six innings played and evened the score at 2-2 after senior Emily White launched her first of back-to-back home runs in consecutive at bats down the left field line in the second inning.  UWA added eight runs over the next two frames to take command of the contest.  White’s second home run led off the fourth to begin the Tigers’ five-run fourth.  Angela Smith and Courtney Gordon each had extra base hits in the frame along with Jessica Powell’s single up the middle.  UWA added a run in the sixth to close out the game on the run-rule.

As the temperatures began to fall into the evening, the Tiger bats heated up, plating eight runs in the opening inning to cruise to the 24-0 rout.  UWA sent 12 batters to the plate and carded seven hits, three for extra bases.  Sophomore Kelli Hartley drove in a pair with her first triple of the season.  Junior Mary Wright connected on her first of two extra base hits with a double in the inning.  Wright also drilled a grand slam in the UWA fourth to cap off the 11-run inning.  The Tigers added a pair of runs in the second and plated a trio of runs in the third.  Powell, Hartley, Jennifer Lillard and Wright all finished 3-for-4 at the plate in the nightcap.  In the circle, senior Brittany McGee picked up her third win of the season while junior Jessica Cervantes closed out the final two innings.

For the day, Powell turned in a 6-for-8 performance along with four RBIs.  Gordon led UWA in runs driven in with six along with White’s 5-for-7 output.

The Tigers return to the diamond this weekend, March 6-7, taking part in the University of West Georgia Tournament.  UWA begins play on Friday against Georgia College & State University at 8 a.m. CST.