LIVINGSTON, Ala. –  The University of West Alabama dropped a pair of Gulf South Conference contests to second-ranked UAH on Monday at the UWA Softball Complex.  The Chargers downed the Tigers 16-4 in the opening game and claimed the night cap, 4-1.

UWA dropped to 29-7 overall and 3-5 in the GSC East. With the sweep, UAH bumps its overall mark to 28-2 and 7-1 in league play.  Both teams travel to Decatur, Ala. for the annual GSC Crossover this weekend, beginning on Thursday, April 2. 

UAH jumped on the board with a run in the first and exploded in the third, posting ten runs in the frame.  The Chargers strung together seven hits and took advantage of a pair of UWA miscues in the ten-run inning.  UAH expanded the lead with back-to-back home runs to start the fourth.  Whitney Hawkins drove a home run to centerfield, followed by Kathryn Whitlock’s blast to right center.  The Chargers pushed their final two runs across the plate in the fifth on Whitlock’s second round-tripper of the contest.

UWA’s bats came alive in the fourth with a three-spot.  Valisha Fincher led off the inning with her seventh home run of the season.  Ashley Edgar picked up an RBI with a single to left, to score Emily White, who reached base on a fielder’s choice.  Lauren Mills punched a sacrifice fly to center, plating Laura Bagwell.  The Tigers’ final run of the opener came in the fifth with an RBI ground out from White, scoring Kelli Hartley, who started the frame with a single.

In the night cap, UAH used the long ball to gain the early advantage.  After a Kelli Long base hit, Beth Lawson drilled a two-run shot to centerfield to give the Chargers a 2-0 edge.  After the Long home run ball, the Tiger pitching staff kept UAH off balance until the fourth inning.  UAH’s Emily Roach opened the inning with a double and scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Whitlock to extend the lead to 3-0.  UWA responded with its lone run of the contest, as Hartley connected on her ninth home run of the season to begin the Tiger fourth.  UAH starter, Sage Woodham kept the Tigers at bay en route to a complete game performance.  Woodham turned in five strike outs and gave up a pair of UWA hits.  Edgar carded the first Red and White hit in the third.

UWA will begin competition in the GSC Crossover on Thursday, April 2 against Southern Arkansas at 4 p.m., followed by a 6 p.m. tilt with Arkansas at Monticello.  All games will be played at Decatur’s Wilson Morgan Park.  Live stats will be available throughout the weekend at athletics.uwa.edu.