MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Looking to complete its first series sweep in program history as a member of the Gulf South Conference the Auburn Montgomery softball team earned an 8-0 victory over league foe Shorter University in six innings at the AUM Softball Complex on Saturday afternoon.
 
NOTES
• AUM improves to 22-12 overall with a 13-11 mark in the GSC.
• Shorter falls to 15-19 and 10-13 in league play with the two setbacks.
• The victory marks the first GSC series sweep for the Warharwks.
• The Warhawks held the Hawks scoreless in all three games.
• AUM is now 9-4 lifetime against Shorter.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Senior Kalee Sparks continued her hot streak at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three runs batted in and two runs scored. In the three games against Shorter Sparks went 8-for-11 with six RBI and four runs scored with two doubles and two stolen bases.
• Sophomore Parker Pinholster went 2-for-4 offensively with two RBI
• Pitchers Natalie Johnsey and Michaelyn Foster combined for the shutout, with Foster tossing three no-hit innings for AUM.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• AUM sent all nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the first, with Sparks driving in the game's first run on a double to left-centerfield that scored Jaycie Walker from second. Pinholster would deliver a double two batters later that allowed Sparks to score from third and gave the Warhawks a 2-0 advantage.
• While still in the first the Warhawks loaded the bases for catcher Abby Krueger who was then hit by a pitch to plate another runner and give AUM a 3-0 lead.
• Sparks picked up her second RBI of the day in the bottom of the second when she singled to right to plate Hannah Dailey as the Warhawks went up 4-0 after two complete.
• AUM score two more runs in the fourth when pinch-runner Jasmine Thompson stole second, then advanced to third on a wild pitch and finally scored on another wild pitch to give her squad a 5-0 advantage. Sparks then delivered her third RBI of the day with a single to left that scored Walker from second once again.
• In the bottom of the sixth a fielding error with runners at second and third allowed Sparks to cross the plate and give AUM a 7-0 lead followed by a Pinholster single down the leftfield line that scored Morgan Duschell to put the Warhawks up 8-0 and end the contest via the NCAA Eight-Run Rule.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
• AUM scored eight runs on five hits with no errors.
• Shorter tallied two hits and three errors.
• Johnsey earned the win for AUM, improving to 4-6 on the season after allowing only two hits in three innings of work. Foster picked up her first save of the season by holding the Hawks hitless over three innings, allowing only three baserunners.
• Julie Sanderlin fell to 5-3 on the season after allowing three runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning to start the game. Payton Lippert entered the game in relief in the first and allowing five runs (two earned) on three hits.
 
UP NEXT
The Warhawks will travel to Pensacola, Fla., to take on #14 West Florida in a GSC series set to begin on Saturday, April 14 with a doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m. Sunday's contest is set to begin at 1 p.m. as well.
 
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