0
Southern Arkansas SAUSB 49-10
9
Winner North Alabama UNA 56-6
Southern Arkansas SAUSB
49-10
0
Final
9
North Alabama UNA
56-6
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Southern Arkansas SAUSB 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
North Alabama UNA 5 2 0 2 X 9 10 0

W: Carpenter, Hillary (29-3) L: Kimmy Beasley (25-5)

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vs. Adelphi

5/18/2016 | 2:30 PM (MST)

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Game Recap: Softball |

LIONS OPEN WORLD SERIES WITH 9-0 WIN OVER SAU

FOLLOW THE LIONS IN GAME 2 VS. ADELPHI
FIRST PITCH - WEDNESDAY AT 3:30 PM

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DENVER, Colo. – A five-run first inning propelled the University of North Alabama softball team to a 9-0 mercy-rule victory over Southern Arkansas Tuesday evening in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Women's College World Series in Denver. Brooklynn Clark was 3-for-3 with two home runs and five RBI, while Hillary Carpenter notched her 12th shutout of the season as the Lions improved 56-6 on the season.
 
Clark, who hours earlier had been named the D2CCA National Player of the Year, lived up to the billing. Her three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning set the stage for the Lions' 23rd mercy-rule win of the season.
 
Bailey Nelson reached base after a nine-pitch at bat ended with a single up the middle. Courtney Shields followed by reaching on an error on a sacrifice bunt to bring Clark to the plate with two on and no outs. The senior from Seadrift, Texas connected on an 0-2 pitch and sent it over the left center field fence.
 
"I was just looking for a good pitch to hit," said Clark. "That's what I did and it just happened to go out."
 
The scoring continued in the first inning. After a double by Harlie Barkley, Reagan Tittle connected on her 11th home run of the season to give UNA the 5-0 lead.
 
After SAU went down in order in the top of the second inning, the Lions added to their lead in the bottom of the frame. Nelson drew a lead-off walk before Clark hit her second homer of the day to make the score 7-0. The shot to left center was her 18th of the season.
 
Southern Arkansas loaded the bases in the top of the third inning but was unable to score. Carpenter got Maddie Dow to pop up to first base to end the threat.
 
"I don't get nervous in situations like that because I know my defense always backs me up," said Carpenter. "For some reason, I have always loved pitching in the postseason. I don't know what it is about it, that's just when I bring my best games."
 
North Alabama finished the scoring with a two-run fourth inning to evoke the mercy rule. An RBI-ground out by Barkley and a run-scoring single by Anna Gayle Norris gave the Lions a 9-0 lead. The hit by Norris scored Clark, who singled to reach base. The blooper to left field was the 103rd hit of the season for Clark to set a new Gulf South Conference record.
 
The Muleriders got one baserunner before a strikeout by Carpenter ended the game.    
 
UNA head coach Ashley Cozart said the team came ready to play.
 
"Getting the early lead was huge," said Cozart. "I think Brooklynn's three-run home run really set the tone. We have really been doing that all year long by scoring early and affecting the other team's confidence. We just played our game and I could not have been more proud of them."
 
Carpenter, who improves to 29-3 on the year, finished with a three-hit shutout. She walked three and struck out three in five innings of work.
 
At the plate, Tittle added a double and finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBI. Five other UNA players had one hit each. The game marked the 28th time this year the Lions recorded at least 10 hits in a contest. The 10 hits also pushed the team's season total over 600 for the season at 607.
 
UNA will play Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. (Central) against Adelphi.

 
2647
Brooklynn Clark connects on a three-run home run in the first inning against No. 15 Southern Arkansas.
  
2646
Hillary Carpenter pitched a three-hit shutout in UNA's opening game at the 2016 Division II Women's College World Series.
  
2648
Harlie Barkley rounds first base after hitting a double in the first inning against Southern Arkansas.
   
2649
Bailey Nelson leads off North Alabama's first World Series game with a single up the middle.
  
2645
Reagan Tittle stands on second after her third-inning double in the World Series against Southern Arkansas.
   
2643
The UNA bench greets Brooklynn Clark at home plate after the senior hit the first of her two home runs against Southern Arkansas in the World Series.
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Players Mentioned

Harlie Barkley

#2 Harlie Barkley

IF
5' 3"
Senior
R-R
Courtney Shields

#7 Courtney Shields

OF
5' 10"
Senior
L-R
Brooklynn Clark

#8 Brooklynn Clark

1B
5' 10"
Senior
L-L
Hillary Carpenter

#1 Hillary Carpenter

P
5' 5"
Senior
L-L
Anna Gayle Norris

#26 Anna Gayle Norris

1B/DP
6' 0"
Senior
L-L
Bailey Nelson

#17 Bailey Nelson

OF
5' 4"
Senior
L-R
Reagan Tittle

#22 Reagan Tittle

SS
5' 7"
Senior
R-R

Players Mentioned

Harlie Barkley

#2 Harlie Barkley

5' 3"
Senior
R-R
IF
Courtney Shields

#7 Courtney Shields

5' 10"
Senior
L-R
OF
Brooklynn Clark

#8 Brooklynn Clark

5' 10"
Senior
L-L
1B
Hillary Carpenter

#1 Hillary Carpenter

5' 5"
Senior
L-L
P
Anna Gayle Norris

#26 Anna Gayle Norris

6' 0"
Senior
L-L
1B/DP
Bailey Nelson

#17 Bailey Nelson

5' 4"
Senior
L-R
OF
Reagan Tittle

#22 Reagan Tittle

5' 7"
Senior
R-R
SS