MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Auburn University at Montgomery softball team won their fourth straight game to start the 2019 season by defeating Talladega College 9-0 in five innings in the opening game of the 2019 AUM Invitational at the AUM Softball Complex.
 
NOTES
• AUM improves to 4-0 on the season.
• Talladega falls to 0-1 overall
• The Warhawks now have run-ruled their second opponent in a row, having defeated the University of Mobile 11-2 in five innings in their last outing.
• The Orange & Black have outscored opponents 33-2 in their first four games.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Rightfielder Morgan Duschell went 1-for-2 with three runs batted in and a run scored.
• Centerfielder Parker Pinholster went 1-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored.
• Junior pitcher Chanel Newcomer (2-0) picked up the win, tossing five strikeouts over three innings and allowing only one base runner on one hit.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• AUM drew first blood in the contest, scoring on a Pinholster single up the middle that plated Olivia Aycock from second. Pinholster reached second on the play, then stole third with Duschell at the plate. Duschell grounded out to the shortstop which allowed Pinholster to score, giving the Warhawks a 2-0 lead after one.
• With runners at second and third in the bottom of the third, Duschell would slap a triple to right-center to score Aycock and Pinholster, reaching third base standing up. Second baseman Gracie Harris would lay down a sacrifice bunt fielder's choice to plate Duschell, with Harris reaching first when Talladega tried to throw Duschell out at home. Harris would steal second then reach third on a wild pitch, finally reaching home on an Abby Krueger sac bunt. After three AUM led 6-0.
• Kendall Tucker would lead off the bottom of the fourth with a triple to right-center, scoring on the play when the Tornadoes second baseman mishandled the cutoff throw. Hannah Dailey then drew a walk, followed by a Jaycie Walker double to put the Orange & Black up 8-0. Aycock laid down a sac bunt to get Walker to third, at which point Walker was pinch run for with Tatiana Ervin entering the contest. Pinholster then grounded out the short to get Ervin and and give the Warhawks a 9-0 lead.
• The Tornadoes would go 3-Up-3-Down in the top of the fifth, giving the Warhawks the run-rule victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
• AUM scored nine runs on four hits while committing one error.
• Talladega was held scoreless with one hit and one error.
• The Warhawks stole seven bases in the contest.
 
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