JACKSON, Tenn. – On Feb. 18, the Union University softball team split their doubleheader with #13 University of West Alabama, winning the first game 3-2 and losing the second 6-3. After both games, Union’s record is now 7-4 (2-1 GSC), and West Alabama is 9-4 (1-2 GSC).
After winning the first game of the series on Saturday in walk off fashion, the Lady Bulldogs did it again in game one of the doubleheader. The Tigers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first courtesy of a double by Taylor Clegg, but Union responded in the bottom half of the inning when Macey Neal doubled to left center to score Morgan Jennings who led off with a single. The game remained 1-1 until the sixth inning when Courtney Marler hit a bomb to the hill in left field to break the tie and give Union a 2-1 lead. With two outs in the top of the seventh, West Alabama knotted the game up once again after Clegg hit the first pitch of her at bat over the center field fence for a homerun. The Lady Bulldogs got the final out of the inning to send it to the home half of the seventh all tied up at two a piece. Sarah Kate Thompson led off with a single to left field and was bunted over to second by Jennings. Neal followed with a clutch single down the right field line to score Thompson and walk off West Alabama.
The Lady Bulldogs had nine hits in the contest. Both Neal and Thompson had two-hit games, and Mackenzi David, Brooke Puckett, Bryleigh Carneal, Marler, and Jennings collected a hit a piece. There were three extra base hits with a double each from Neal and David and the homerun by Marler.
Riley Vaughn threw a complete game for Union, allowing only two runs and striking out eight. By holding nationally ranked West Alabama at bay, she collected her second win of the season.
In game two of the day, the Lady Bulldogs were going for the sweep but fell just short. Union started the scoring immediately in the bottom of the first as Macey Neal hit her second homerun of the series, a two-run shot over the scoreboard in right field. However, the lead did not last long. The Tigers scored one run in the second, two in the third, and one in the fourth, making the score 4-2. Carneal singled in the bottom of the fourth to score Puckett and bring the Lady Bulldogs to within one, but that was all they would get. West Alabama plated two more runs before the game was over to make the final 6-3.
Three Lady Bulldogs had two hits in the game, including Jennings, Puckett, and Carneal. Neal and Marler also had one hit each. Union had three extra base hits with a double a piece for Puckett and Carneal and the homer from Neal.
Emily Claire Felder got the start for the Lady Bulldogs, going five innings and striking out six while allowing five runs. Addison Abell threw the final two innings and gave up only one run on one hit. Felder took the loss, bringing her record to 2-2 on the season.
Up next, the Lady Bulldogs will face Miles College in a midweek doubleheader at Fesmire Field on Feb. 21. Game one is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m. General admission for all home games is free courtesy of FirstBank.
