LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama softball team made quick work of in-state foe Miles College, recording a pair of run-rule contests on Thursday evening at the UWA Softball Complex.  The Tigers topped the Golden Bears 9-0 in the opener and routed MC 18-3 in the second game of the twinbill.

With the pair of wins, UWA reaches the 20-win plateau, the quickest to the win mark since 1991.  The 1991 ballclub secured its 20^th win of the season in the 24^th game of the year.  The Tigers (20-2) carded their third shutout of the season in the opener.

The Tigers got on the board with a run in the first inning and exploded for six runs in the third, thanks to a pair of home runs by Kelli Hartley and Courtney Gordon.  Hartley’s round tripper drove in Ashley Edgar, who doubled to left center.  After a Valisha Fincher walk, Gordon drilled one over the centerfield wall.  The Columbus, Miss.-native registered a pair of home runs in the double dip, with a two-run shot in the second inning of the night cap.  Laura Bagwell got the frame started with a double followed by another two-bagger of the bat of Angela Smith.  UWA closed out the scoring in the fourth with a pair of runs in the at bat.  Jessica Cervantes doubled to right center, scoring Bagwell.  Jessica Powell slapped a double down the left field line for the Tigers’ ninth run of the contest.

In the circle, senior Emily White tossed a complete game shutout and allowed just three MC hits.  The Ragland, Ala.-right hander retired the first eight batters before Julisha Cook picked up the first hit for the Golden Bears in the third.

In the night cap, UWA pounded out 18 hits en route to the double digit win.  The Red and White jumped on the board with a grand slam from Lauren Mills off the left field foul pole.  Mills turned in a 4-for-4 performance at the plate, including six RBIs on the contest.  The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-transfer also had a double in the second game.  UWA put together back-to-back four spots in the second and third and poured on five more runs in its final at bat.  Junior catcher Jennifer Lillard also finished the second game with four hits and four runs driven in.  Hartley contributed three hits to the Tigers’ cause along with scoring three times. 

Brittany McGee (8-1) and Aubree Hudson combined to allow just five MC hits in the affair.  The big blow for the Golden Bears’ was a three-run blast by Valerie Pena in the fourth.  McGee fanned three in her three innings of work.

UWA’s Gulf South Conference lid-lifter on Friday, March 13, against West Georgia has been rescheduled due to the impending weather in the area on Friday.  The two GSC East foes will now square off on April 16 at the UWA Softball Complex.  The Tigers return to action on Tuesday, March 17, traveling to Jackson, Tenn. to face Lambuth University.  First pitch from the LU campus is set for 3 p.m.