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LIVINGSTON, Ala. —The
University of West Alabama softball team earned a split
on the opening day of the UWA Invitational on Friday at
the UWA Softball Complex. The Tigers opened the 2008
campaign with a 6-2 win over Gulf South Conference foe
Ouachita Baptist and dropped a tough 10-8 decision to
No. 16 North Georgia College and State in the nightcap.
OBU, who fell 6-0 in the invitational
lid-lifter to NGCSU, scratched the board in the opening
frame to take an early 1-0 lead, but UWA junior Emily
White sat down eight-straight batters thru the second
and fourth frames. The Tiger offence put together
back-to-back three run innings in the second and third
to take command of the game. The second frame was
sparked by catcher Ashley Edgar’s two-out, two-RBI
double in the frame. In the third, Merdian Community
College transfer, Courtney Gordon led off with a double
to right center, followed by Monica Rethwill’s single.
Gordon was plated on Jenifer Lauth’s fly ball to right
field.
White, a pre-season All- GSC
performer, picked up the win after pitching five innings
sprinkling four hits in her outing. She fanned two and
did not allow a walk. Kassadie Jones and Brittany McGee
combined to close out the season-opening win for the
Tigers. The four-run win was the Tigers third
season-opening win in the past four seasons and the
first win in the Will Atkinson era at UWA.
In the nightcap against the No. 16
Saints of NGCSU, the Tigers fell behind early when the
Blue and White plated three early runs off UWA starter
Aubree Hudson. UWA quickly responded in the bottom
frame with four runs in the first. White got thins
started after two outs were on the board. Gordon picked
up where she left off the opening game with a doubled,
scoring UWA’s first run. Senior Krista Merrifield
cleared the bases on a two-bagger to give the Red and
White the 4-3 lead after one complete inning. The
Saints evened the back and fourth tilt with a solo
homerun by Laura Voyles.
UWA freshman Kelli Hartley connected
on her first of two homeruns in the contest in the
second inning to give the Tigers the 6-4 advantage, but
NGCSU fought back in the fourth, scoring two runs on
four hits in the frame. Hartley cranked her second
round tripper in the bottom of the frame to break the
6-6 deadlock. The Saints responded with a pair of runs
in the top of the fifth. NGCSU’s Jessica Skeels broke
the second deadlock lock with a two-run blast to left
center for the game-winning RBIs.
The UWA-hosted event will continue on
Saturday, Feb. 9, beginning at 10 a.m. OBU and NGCSU
will square off in the first game while UWA will play at
Noon and 2 p.m. against NGSCU and OBU respectively.
2008 UWA Invitational Schedule
Saturday, Feb. 9
10 a.m. Ouachita
Baptist vs. North Georgia College & State
Noon West
Alabama vs. North Georgia College & State
2 p.m. West
Alabama vs. Ouachita Baptist |
