MOBILE, Ala. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) softball team won the opening game of a non-conference doubleheader 1-0 over the visiting University of West Alabama (UWA) Tigers on Wednesday afternoon at Murray Field, but the Tigers used a 3-run 1^st inning to salvage a 4-1 victory in the nightcap.
 
In the opening contest, starters Hannah Brenton (5-1) of the Badgers and Carleigh Mills (3-6) of the Tigers (6-13) found themselves locked in an old-fashioned pitchers' duel with neither pitcher allowing a hit until Brenton surrendered a single right to UWA 3^rd baseman Ashley Smart in 4^th inning and Mills was touched for back-to-back singles in the 5^th frame.
 
SHC would breakout for the only run of the game in the bottom of the 6^th inning when 2^nd baseman Delaney Thomas laced a two-out single over the 1^st base bag to plate right fielder Carlisle Jamison from second base. Jamison had earlier led off the inning with a single to right-center and moved into scoring position off a sacrifice bunt by centerfielder Brooke Vosloh.
 
Brenton picked up the shutout by scattering three hits with two walks and four strikeouts while Mills was saddled with the complete-game loss with four hits, a walk and two strikeouts. Brenton pitched out of a runners-on-the-corners jam with one out in the 7^th inning with a pop out to the infield and strikeout looking to end the game.
 
The Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 1^st inning of the second game when UWA 1^st baseman Audrey Diekmann punched a 2-run double into deep right-center and was later brought home off a single to left by right fielder Nicole Buccieri. The Tigers tacked on an unearned run in the 7^th inning via an infield throwing error by the Badgers, but SHC fought back to bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the inning. Brenton got things started with a one-out, pinch-hit double to left-center. Pinch runner Julia Waters then moved 3^rd base off a single up the middle by catcher Cassidy Mehr and scored when Vosloh put a double into right-center.
 
Nora Keehn would come in to earn her first save of season for the Tigers with a game-ending grounder to shortstop as Andrea Edmonds (2-4) took the win in five innings with four hits, a walk and two strikeouts. Baylie Doiron (0-1) suffered the complete-game loss with five hits, five walks and two strikeouts
 
The Badgers (6-4) will travel to Gulf Shores this weekend to play in the NAIA Gulf Coast Invitational beginning at 11 a.m. on Friday versus the Columbia (Mo.) College Cougars (2-1).