Spring Hill College's softball team had a tough day on the diamond Tuesday as the Badgers were swept in a doubleheader by West Alabama, 4-3 (8) and 10-3, in Livingston, Ala., at the UWA Softball Complex.
The losses drop SHC to 11-13 on the season, while West Alabama improves to 16-11.Â
Game One: West Alabama 4, Spring Hill 3 (8 innings)
The Badgers jumped on top in the first inning as
Carmen Byrd doubled to start the game, then came home to score on a two-out double by
Hannah Fillmore.Â
Fillmore would come through again in the fourth inning to double the lead. The sophomore's home run to left with one out in the inning made it a 2-0 contest in favor of the guests.
West Alabama would come back with two runs in the sixth to knot the score thanks to a two-out, two-run homer. Neither team would score in the seventh, and the game would head to extra innings.
In the eighth, SHC would take advantage of the International Tiebreaker Rule to take the lead back in the top of the frame.
Tiffany Fairchild started the inning on second, then moved to third on a one-out sacrifice bunt by Byrd.
Aly Fowler would put the ball in play and would reach base thanks to a West Alabama error, allowing Fairchild to score to put SHC up 3-2.
In the bottom of the inning, however, the home side would come back to take the victory. Kacy Noland's one-out single tied the game, then Hayes Fulford's two-out single gave the home side the win.
Baylie Doiron (1-6) took the hard-luck loss for SHC, going the distance and allowing three earned runs on six hits.
Game Two: West Alabama 10, Spring Hill, 3
A six-run second inning helped West Alabama to a 10-3 victory in game two of the Tuesday twin bill.
Delaney Thomas started the scoring for SHC in the top of the first as her fourth home run of the year was of the solo variety, giving the Badgers a 1-0 lead.
UWA came back with a run in the first, with the Tigers taking advantage of two errors by the Badgers to score six runs and take a 7-1 lead.
In the fourth, SHC needed just one hit to score two runs and trim the lead to four. Thomas started the inning with her second extra-base hit of the game as her double to left put a runner in scoring position to start the inning. Fillmore would walk after a wild pitch to put runners on the corners with no one out. After a passed ball bumped Fillmore to second, Fowler grounded out to short to score Thomas. After a walk, pinch hitter
Morgan Kramer grounded out to first to plate Fillmore, making it 7-3.
However, UWA would come back with a run in the bottom of the inning and two runs in the fifth to make it 10-3 for the final margin of victory.
Hananh Brenton (4-4) allowed three earned runs in 1.1 innings of work, taking the loss for SHC.
The Badgers will be back in action Wednesday at Murray Field for a single game against West Florida. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
