MONTEVALLO – The University of North Alabama softball team outscored Montevallo 16-0 in a two-game sweep on Wednesday that extended the team's winning streak to nine straight games. The Lions won the opener 11-0 before getting a 5-0 victory in the nightcap to improve to 16-1 on the season.
For the day, UNA blasted 26 hits, including 12 that went for extra bases. Three North Alabama pitchers also combined to produce the two shutouts, scattering five hits will 11 strikeouts.
In the opener, the Lions got 13 hits, including six doubles and a home run in the five-inning victory. UNA scored in every inning, including a five-run fifth inning that evoked the eight-run mercy rule. Madeline Lee went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI while Libby Olinger drove in four runs on a 2-for-4 showing.
After plating single runs in the top of the first three innings, UNA took a 6-0 after scoring three more times in the top of the fourth. An RBI-double by Courtney Shields was followed by a two-run home run by Olinger.
Shields also led off the game with a double and finished 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI. Brittany Gillison also drove in two runs and went 2-for-4 in the opener.
Bree Blevins got the win after pitching the first four innings. She stuck out two on the day to improve to 7-1 on the season. Ashton Edwards pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fifth.
In the second game, Reagan Tittle got the offense going for the Lions with a solo home run to lead off the top of the second inning.
A three-run fourth inning extended the lead for UNA. Back-to-back doubles by Ashley Bonner and Amy Carden supplied the first run. Olinger then connected on her second homer of the day with a two-run shot to left center. The Lions wrapped up the scoring with a single run in the fifth inning. After leading off the frame with a triple, Lee scored on a sacrifice fly by Tittle to account for the final score.
Bonner was 3-for-3 in the nightcap. Carden, Gillison and Olinger added two hits each.
Hillary Carpenter pitched the complete game shutout to improve to 8-0 on the year. She allowed three hits with nine strikeouts in seven innings of work.
UNA will not turn its attention to a key Gulf South Conference this weekend at No. 2 Valdosta State. The two teams will play a double-header Saturday at 2 p.m. (CST) before wrapping up the series the following day at noon.
