SHOWDOWN WITH FIFTH-RANKED VALDOSTA STATE
NEXT FOR THE LIONS
ALBANY, Ga.,
– The University of North Alabama softball
team outscored Albany State 18-1 Thursday
during a double-header road sweep over the
Lady Rams. The 9-0, 9-1 victories improve
the Lions’ overall record to 24-10 on the
season.
In the first
game, UNA produced nine runs off 14 hits,
while starting pitcher Megan Niesel threw a
four-hit shutout.
The Lions
scored in each of the first four innings.
With a 6-0 lead after three, UNA used a
three-run fourth inning to end the game
early with the eight-run mercy rule. ASU
failed to score in the bottom of the inning,
making the final score 9-0.
Lindsey Bates
and Lindsey Greene each came through with
three hits and three RBI in the game.
Greene, who set a new school record for
career runs scored, went 3-for-4 at the
plate and scored twice. Bates was a perfect
3-for-3, including a solo home run in the
fourth inning while Maggie Eades doubled and
finished with a 2-for-3 showing.
With the win,
Niesel improved to 6-3 on the year. She
scattered four hits, walked one batter and
had four strikeouts in five innings on the
mound.
The second game
featured another early ending via the mercy
rule. This time, the Lions used a six-run
inning to break open a close game and pick
up a 9-1 win.
Leading 3-0
after four innings, UNA sent 11 batters to
the plate in the top of the fifth. The
inning was highlighted by a two-RBI triple
by Amy Goebel that scored Bates and Sarah
Whitlow.
In the bottom
of the inning, the Rams (14-23) scored their
only run of the day with a lead-off solo
home run by Shari Golden. It was only the
second hit of the day surrendered by the
Lions’ Stephanie Glienke, who improved 9-3
with the win.
Glienke, who
also had four strikeouts on the day, has
allowed just five hits in her last 19
innings on the mound. The solo homer broke a
streak of 20.1 consecutive scoreless innings
thrown by the senior from Houston, Texas.
UNA will take a
day off before returning to Gulf South
Conference play on Saturday. The Lions will
play at fifth-ranked Valdosta State at noon
CST in an battle to determine first place in
the East Division.
Printable Game
Statistics - Albany State - Game 33
Printable Game
Statistics - Albany State - Game 34
