North Alabama’s softball team came away with two more wins Sunday at the GSC/PBC Southern Softball Showdown to finish the season-opening event with a 4-0 record.
The Lions knocked off Armstrong State 2-1 and then beat host Columbus State 6-1 at the South Commons Softball Complex.
Raven Cole picked up two wins while the Lions added another five extra-base hits.
In the opener, the Lions loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh before Carmen Whitfield’s one-out ground ball scored Danielle Cruickshank from third for the game-winning run. The 2-1 victory kept the Lions unbeaten at the event despite being outhit 7-4.
Cole got the win in relief after UNA starter Hillary Carpenter dueled with Armstrong ace Tori Bates for six innings. Cole entered a tie game in the top of the seventh with a runner on first and no outs. She retired three of the next four batters, including a strikeout to end the inning with runners at second and third.
Carpenter got the no-decision after scattering seven hits in six innings.
UNA led 1-0 throughout the game until the Pirates tied it in the top of the sixth. Armstrong was poised to take the lead before Carpenter pitched out of a bases-loaded jam to end the threat.
North Alabama scored in the first inning on doubles by Bailey Nelson and Reagan Tittle.
Armstrong stranded 10 runners. Three of the Lions’ four hits were doubles.
Against Columbus State, Cole (3-0) allowed just two hits in six innings. She struck out five and allowed only one run before freshman Hannah Bodenhorn got the final three outs. -Timesdaily.com-
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