LIVINGSTON – The University of West Alabama softball team climbed two spots to No. 17 in the NFCA Division II Softball Poll released today.

The Tigers improved two positions on the strength of a 4-2 week that included a split with then top-ranked Valdosta State. UWA split a doubleheader at West Georgia before coming home to win three of four against Valdosta State and West Florida over the weekend.

Led by the league’s leading hitter in left fielder Whitney Brown, UWA continues to lead the Gulf South Conference in batting, sporting a team average of .388. Brown, a junior from Fyffe, is hitting .483 with a league-best 33 runs batted in. Her seven home runs are second in the GSC.

West Alabama hits the road this weekend for a doubleheader at Christian Brothers at noon on Saturday and two more games at Delta State beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Valdosta State (2) and North Alabama (25) are the only other GSC schools ranked in the top 25.