MOBILE, Ala. (April 26, 2022) – The Spring Hill College (SHC) Badgers softball team wrapped up its 2022 regular season with split results in a non-conference home doubleheader versus the University of West Alabama (UWA) Tigers on Tuesday afternoon at Murray Field, falling 15-2 in the first game before rebounding to take the nightcap 2-1.
The Tigers (26-20) built an 11-0 lead in three innings versus SHC sophomore starter
Alexandra Ballester (13-7) who allowed nine hits and four walks with one strikeout before relinquishing the circle to
Olivia Indorf for the final two frames. Indorf, in her first appearance in over a month due to injury, surrendered four runs off four hits and three walks with one strikeout.
Hannah Mynard (13-5) took the win in 5.0 innings with four hits, two walks and four strikeouts.
Badger catcher
Ashley Ortiz was 2-for-3 with a 2-RBI double to right-center in the 3
rd inning.
Paityn Desormeaux (7-3) earned her ninth complete-game victory of the season after the Badgers regrouped between games to take a 2-1 win. The leftie allowed just three hits with two walks while dealing four strikeouts to the Tigers. She also benefited from her own alert play by cutting down an attempted stolen base with two outs in the 5
th inning when a UWA hitter tried to catch her napping following a shortstop to second fielder's choice.
The Badger defensive left side also turned in a remarkable play when a diving left fielder
Abby Fridley flipped a "Texas League" blooper to shortstop
Madison Koger for the out.
SHC center fielder
Airyonna Weaver crushed a leadoff home run out of left field in the 2
nd inning to tie the game at 1-1 and also provided the winning run with heads-up baserunning in the 4
th inning. With one out, Weaver beat out a potentially inning-ending double play at first base. First baseman
Hailey Schultz then put a single into center that put the aggressively running Weaver at 3
rd base only to have the throw in from the outfield skip away, leading to Weaver sliding in at home plate under an errant throw that put Schultz at 3
rd base.
The Badgers (24-15, 16-3 SIAC) next take to the field as the West Division No. 2 seed at the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) 2022 Softball Championship Tournament hosted by Albany State University in Albany, Ga. on May 5-7.
The win also handed SHC head coach
Steve Kittrell his 99
th career victory in collegiate softball and as the Badger skipper.
