Softball Drops Season Opening Doubleheader
Box Score LIVINGSTON, Ala. -- West Alabama has been one of the best teams in the South Region over the last several years. The Tigers had also played two games this season, which did not put Miles in the strongest position as it was opening its 2015 campaing with a roster that is filled with mostly freshmen and sophomores.
The offense never got going and Miles suffered a doubleheader sweep to UWA, 23-3, 9-0, as both games were stopped early via the 8-run rule. The Tigers even their record at 2-2 while the Lady Golden Bears begin 0-2.
In the opener, Miles got on the board in the top of the first inning as
Evette Ransaw knocked in
Jamellya Ducker to give the Lady Golden Bears a 1-0 advantage. Miles would load the bases with one outs but were unable to do any more damage. Unfortunately, UWA would begin doing its damage in the bottom of the inning. Starter
Talana Brown (0-2) would give up eight runs in the bottom of the inning, capped with a 3-run homer by Libby Davis, to give the Tigers all the runs they would need.
Miles' offense was back at it again in the third. Ransaw singled in another run to make the score 8-2, but the inning - which featured the first five hitters reaching base - was short-circuited as two runners were thrown out trying to steal. West Alabama answered with an 11-spot in the bottom of the third. Brown did not make it out of the inning and
Grayson Culliver, who came on in relief, served up two 3-run home runs in the inning. Ducker led off the top of the fifth with a solo home run but it was not nearly enough to stop the game from ending via the run-rule.
The nightcap got off to a rough start as UWA scored seven times in the opening frame to take control. Brown allowed six doubles in the first inning and the Tigers batted around. The junior pitcher settled down from there, blanking West Alabama over the next four innings and allowing just two more hits.
Madison Westbrook took over in the circle in the sixth inning and it did not take long before her day - and the Lady Golden Bears - was over. A leadoff walk was promptly followed by a two-run home run by Devan Hines to give UWA the run-rule victory.
Miles is in action again this weekend at the Charger ChillOut in Huntville beginning Friday. The first opponent is the University of Southern Indiana with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. The second game is against Kentucky Wesleyan, which is scheduled to begin at approximately 5 p.m.
