Live Stats

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – With the final Gulf South Conference Tournament berth from the East Division on the line this weekend, the University of West Alabama softball team closes out the regular season at top-ranked UAH on Saturday before continuing on to Florence, Ala. on Sunday to face North Alabama.  First pitch from the Charger Softball Complex is set for Noon.

The Tigers (41-13, 11-11 GSC) enter the final conference weekend a half a game ahead of West Georgia (11-12 GSC) for the final spot in the eight-team event.  The GSC Tournament will commence on Friday, May 1, at the Southaven Greenbrook Complex in Southaven, Miss.  UWA looks to clinch its first GSC postseason spot since winning the league title in the 1997 edition of the event.

UWA surpassed the 40 wins plateau on Tuesday with a sweep of Judson College and is one win shy of matching the school record for wins in a season.  The 1988 ballclub finished with a 42-13 mark under Liz Kelly.  The Tigers sport a team batting average of .346, which ranks second in the GSC.  The daunting average at the dish can be attributed to UWA’s 78 home runs on the season.  Sophomore Kelli Hartley paces the Tigers with a .413 hitting clip.  The Northport, Ala.-second baseman leads the team in hits (69), home runs (15) and doubles (16).  Hartley, who shattered the single-season runs scored record earlier this season, is six RBIs shy of equaling the single-season mark of 73 RBIs.  Former UWA standout Heather Shugart totaled 73 RBIs in 2007.

The Chargers, who maintained the top spot in this week’s NCAA South Region Poll and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Top 25 listing, claimed the two-game set against UWA in Livingston earlier this season.  The Tigers swept the Lions of UNA on the home field and will look for the first season sweep of the Purple and Gold since 1999.

Live stats will be available for both days at athletics.uwa.edu.