JACKSON, Tenn. – On Mar. 17, the Union University softball team defeated Shorter University 12-2 in five innings to complete the series sweep. With the win, Union is now 18-9 overall (10-5 GSC), while Shorter falls to 2-24 overall (1-14 GSC).
The Lady Bulldogs led 1-0 after the first inning courtesy of a Shorter error that allowed Macey Neal to score. The Hawks scored their first run of the series in the top of the second when Riley Heard got her first career hit to bring in Lizzy Mitchell, tying the game 1-1. Union plated four runs in the home half of the second. Morgan Jennings split the right-center gap to score Camryn Langley and Bryleigh Carneal. Macey Neal then singled up the middle, allowing Jennings to cross the plate, and two batters later, Zoey Neal hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Macey Neal. Zoey Neal struck again in the fourth, driving a three-run blast over the centerfield fence and bringing the score to 8-1. Shorter’s Payton Tuder doubled in the fifth, bringing in Heard, but it would not be enough to keep the Hawks in the game. In Union’s half of the inning, Jennings singled up the middle, scoring Carneal, and a couple of batters later, Courtney Marler hit a three-run bomb of her own easily clearing the left field fence to walk off the game.
The Lady Bulldogs had 10 hits in the game. Marler led the team in hits, going 3-3 with three RBIs. Macey Neal and Jennings followed close behind, going 2-3 and 2-4 respectively. Zoey Neal led in RBIs with four, and Macey Neal led in runs scored with three.
Emily Claire Felder started in the circle for Union, throwing all five innings and striking out eight Hawks while allowing only two runs on six hits. With the win, Felder’s record is now 4-3.
Up next for the Lady Bulldogs is a midweek doubleheader on Mar. 19 at home against Harding University. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
