FAIRFIELD, Ala. –  The University of West Alabama softball team moved to 5-0 on the season with a sweep of Miles College on Tuesday at chilly Glen-Oaks Park in Fairfield, Ala.  UWA claimed the opening game 6-1 and routed the Golden Bears in the nightcap, 14-2.

With the early unblemished start to the 2009 campaign, UWA is off to its best start since 1991.  The 1991 ballclub started the season with eight-straight wins.

The Tigers used the long ball in both games, recording six home runs combined on the day.  UWA sophomore Valisha Fincher drilled a trio of towering round trippers in the doubleheader en route to a 4-for-6 day at the plate and driving in five runs.  The Tarrant, Ala.-left fielder connected on her first home run of the season in the fifth inning of the opening game with an opposite field shot.  Her second and third home runs came in UWA’s first at bat of the nightcap and she finished her home run barrage with a solo shot in the Tigers’ half of the fifth.  Fincher also swiped three on the base paths.  Senior Laura Bagwell, junior Lauren Mills and junior Mary Wright all finished with a home run to their credit.  As a team, the Red and White pounded out 16 hits in game two.  The Red and White took charge early in the second game, putting together 11 runs in the first three at bats.

UWA was equally strong in the circle as it was at the dish in both games.  The senior pitching tandem of Emily White and Aubree Hudson combined to allow just one MC (0-2) run and striking out ten in the opener.  White picked up her second win of the season.  Hudson pitched the final three frames, fanning seven in the outing to earn a save.  In game two, junior transfer Jessica Cervantes earned the win and came two outs shy of a complete game, tossing 41/3 innings and surrendered just five MC hits in the contest. 

In the opening game of the day, UWA took advantage of six MC miscues in the contest.  The Tigers took a 4-0 lead after three innings.  UWA put a three spot on the board in the third inning, keyed by a pair of doubles from Bagwell and Kelli Hartley.  The Tigers plated a run in the fifth on Fincher’s blast and pushed across the final run of the game in the sixth inning.  Senior shortstop Courtney Gordon touched the plate after the Golden Bears misplayed a ball off the bat of UWA’s Hudson.

The Tigers return to action this weekend, Feb. 20-22, taking part in the annual UAH Chillout in Decatur, Ala.  UWA will face Southern Indiana at 10 a.m. on Friday, followed by a Noon contest against Northern Kentucky.