CARROLLTON, Ga.,
– The University of North Alabama softball
team opened the 2008 season Friday in
Carrollton, Ga., going 1-2 at the West
Georgia Wolves Invitational. The Lions began
the day by knocking off Armstrong Atlantic
before falling to Augusta State and Columbus
State.
UNA will remain
in Carrollton for a pair of games on
Saturday, including a rematch with Armstrong
Atlantic and a late game against Georgia
Southwestern.
In the first
game against AAU, Whitlow opened the season
by homering on her first at-bat. The two-run
shot to left centerfield put the Lions on
top 2-0 in the top of the second inning. She
doubled her next at bat and finished the
game 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI.
UNA put
together a four-run fifth inning to take a
commanding 6-0 lead before the Pirates
scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to
end the shutout.
Megan Niesel
picked up the win on the mound. The junior
scattered three hits in seven innings with
only one of the runs earned. Lindsey Greene
also went 2-for-4 from the batter’s box for
the Lions.
Augusta State
used a two-out rally in the top of the
seventh inning to pull out the 4-3 win and
remain undefeated at 6-0 on the year. With
two outs, the Jaguars drew a walk then got a
single and a double to score the winning
run.
Sabrina Roberts
took the loss on the mound for UNA. The
senior surrendered 10 hits and struck out
three in seven innings of work. Offensively,
Lindsey Bates led the way by going 3-for-4
with an RBI. Greene also scored twice and
finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate.
Against
Columbus State, the Lions plated a run in
the first inning but could not score again
in a 4-1 loss. Freshman pitcher Anna Ard
made her first appearance and struck out
eight batters. She scattered four hits and
only allowed two earned runs, but four
errors proved costly for the Lions.
Kim Lee singled
twice and finished the game 2-for-3 for UNA.
Game 1 - Printable
Game Statistics - Armstrong Atlantic
Game 2 - Printable
Game Statistics - Augusta State
Game 3 - Printable
Game Statistics - Columbus State
