Shorter sweeps No. 18 UWA softball
Published 8:43 am Thursday, March 21, 2013
ROME, Ga. – Shorter capitalized on five West Alabama errors and limited the third-best hitting team in NCAA Division II to just 15 hits in two games on the way to a sweep of the Tigers in a Gulf South Conference doubleheader Wednesday at Alto Park. The Lady Hawks won the opener, 6-2, and then took the nightcap, 7-2.
The 18th-ranked Tigers fall to 17-8 overall and 8-6 in GSC play. Shorter is 24-4 and 12-2 playing in a transition year from NAIA to NCAA Division II and the GSC. The Lady Hawks were the 2012 NAIA national champions.
Starting pitchers Christina Ezell (10-0) and Maddie Bray (8-3) both went the distance for the Shorter wins. UWA starters Sarah Ray (10-2) and Jessica Brock (3-5) were tagged with the losses. Four UWA pitchers walked nine without recording a strikeout in the second game.
First baseman Anna Shartzer had a pair of hits in each game and drove in a run to lead the UWA offense. Shortstop Michal Robertson and right fielder Brooklyn Phillips collected three hits apiece for the Tigers. Phillips drove in two runs.
Jackie Castaneda collected two hits in each game for the Lady Hawks. Felicia Morris tripled, walked three times and scored three runs in the second game.
West Alabama continues its 10-game road swing Saturday in Jackson, Tenn., facing Union in a GSC doubleheader. First pitch is 2 p.m.