MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Thanks to three home runs in game two from sophomore first basemen
Molly Cobb, the Auburn University at Montgomery softball team earned a doubleheader split, dropping the first game 4-0 before rallying for a 6-4 win over No. 23 West Florida.
The Warhawks, after the series with the Argos, go to 15-2 on the season with a 7-2 record in conference action, while West Florida stands at 15-7 with a 9-3 GSC mark.
Bailie Barnes was stellar in the circle in game one for the Warhawks and had it not been for three errors in the sixth inning, she may have had a different result. She spun all seven innings, allowing one earned run and just three hits.
The Warhawks weren't able to get much going at the plate against UWF in the first game of the doubleheader as they were only able to record three hits in the loss.
Both pitchers were on their game to begin the second game of the series as both hurlers carried no-hitters into the fifth inning.
The Warhawks broke through on the hit column first in the fifth inning, with hits from
Morgan Duschell and
Lauren Haskins to put two runners on with two outs. With
Gia Martin up and looking to do some damage, the Argos got the freshman to ground out to second to navigate the trouble.
A great start to the following inning for Barnes was quickly erased due to fielding mishaps. The senior got two out on two pitches on back-to-back groundouts to third base. On the fourth pitch of the inning, a throwing error allowed a baserunner for West Florida.
After a fielding error from
Hannah Dailey, the Warhawks were faced with runners on second and third before a single off Barnes' knee, plated two runs after she threw the ball away past Cobb and into foul territory.
West Florida added a solo home run in the top of the seventh to take a 4-0 lead, but despite having two runners on in the bottom of the seventh, the Warhawks could not push across a run and dropped the first game 4-0.
Game two favored the Warhawk pitching and Cobb's bat as the team was able to put together a solid overall performance. Cobb's three home runs in game two marked the first time in program history an AUM batter hit three homers in a game.
Her big day got started in the first inning and two away, connecting on a big fly that cleared the party deck in center field to give the Orange & Black their first run of the day. The Argos, however, were able to answer with a solo shot of their own in the top of the second.
Another fielding error from the Warhawks allowed West Florida to take a 2-1 lead over AUM in the top of the third.
Cobb's big night continued in the bottom half of the third. With
Olivia Aycock and
Allie Miller on base, she was able to lace a ball over the left-field wall to add a two-run home run to her afternoon, giving AUM a 4-2 lead.
After a solo home run and a three-run home run, the next logical thing to happen would be a two-run home run, and that's exactly what Cobb did, connecting on a towering line drive that cleared the left-field fence to grab a 6-2 Warhawk lead.
West Florida would not go quietly as they would add two runs in the seventh off
Alanna Goble. Barnes was needed to come in and save the game for the Orange & Black in the seventh, netting a pair of strikeouts to earn her first save of the season.
The Warhawks will end their seven-game homestand with a doubleheader against Georgia Southwestern State on Wednesday, March 17. The action from the AUM Softball Complex is set to begin at 2 p.m.
