MONTGOMERY, Ala. – After earning a 1-0 victory in a pitchers' dual in game one of their three-game series with Gulf South Conference foe West Alabama the Auburn Montgomery softball team exploded for seven runs on 12 hits to earn a 7-3 victory over the Tigers in game two, sweeping the Friday doubleheader and taking a 2-0 series lead into Saturday.
 
NOTES
• AUM improves to 12-5 on the season with a 7-4 mark in league play.
• UWA drops to 6-18 overall and 2-9 in the GSC.
• The doubleheader sweep gives AUM its first GSC home series victory in program history.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Sophomore outfielder Parker Pinholster was 3-for-7 at the plate with three runs scored and a run batted in on the day.
• Designated player Jaycie Walker went 3-for-6 with a double and a triple, driving in on run.
• Sophomore pitcher Chanel Newcomer earned the game one victory in relief and pitched a scoreless seventh to secure the Warhawks' victory in game two.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME ONE
• AUM was living dangerously in the first three innings, as UWA was able to get runners at first and second in all three frames. However, the Tigers were unable to score any runners leaving the door open for the Warhawks.
• In a pitchers' dual between UWA and AUM, the Warhawks would be able to draw a run in the bottom of the fourth. Walker singled to second before being pinch ran for by Jasmine Thompson. Thompson stole second and then a Kalee Sparks sacrifice bunt got Thompson to third. Catcher Abby Krueger then hit a sacrifice fly to left to plate Thompson and give AUM a 1-0 advantage.
•  The Tigers were able to get two singles with one out in the top of the seventh, but Newcomer would record consecutive strikeouts to earn the victory for AUM
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE – GAME ONE
• AUM scored one run on four hits while committing three errors.
• UWA was held scoreless on five hits with no errors.
• Newcomer entered the game in the top of the fourth and tossed 3.2 shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out three to improve to 6-3 on the season.
• Andrea Edmonds was credited with the loss for the Tigers, allowing one run on two hits in four innings of work.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME TWO
• West Alabama struck first in game two, plating a run in the top of the first on a Nicole Buccieri double to centerfield that plated Abby McKee from second.
• The Tigers would take a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on an Allison Craft ground out that plated Olivia Dunlap from third.
• AUM would get on the board in the bottom of the third when Pinholster scored on a UWA error to get the Warhawks on the board.
• The Warhawks would explode for five runs in the bottom of the fourth, with pinch hitter Gracie Poe tying the game on a single to left. Gracie Harris would hit a sac bunt that plated another run to give AUM a 3-2 advantage.
• Pinholster would then hit a bases clearing single to right, eventually scoring on the play after an error by the rightfielder. Kendall Tucker would score on the play as well, giving the Warhawks a 5-2 advantage.
• Walker would then hit a triple to score another run and give AUM a 6-2 advantage after four complete innings.
• UWA would get a run back in the top of the sixth on an Ashley Smart single to right to cut the lead to three, but AUM would answer in their half of the frame on a Hannah Dailey single down the rightfield line.
• The Tigers would get a pair of singles to open the seventh inning, but could not get a runner past second as AUM picked up the series clinching victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE – GAME TWO
• AUM scored seven runs on 12 hits with no errors.
• UWA scored three runs on seven hits while committing four errors.
• Michaelyn Foster earned the win in relief, allowing one run on five hits over five innings to improve to 3-0 on the season.
• Carleigh Mills was credited with the loss for UWA, dropping to 3-8 on the season after allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits with four strikeouts.
 
UP NEXT
The Warhawks will host West Alabama tomorrow in a single game set to begin at 1 p.m. to close out the series.
 
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