MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Auburn University at Montgomery softball team, fresh off a doubleheader sweep of No. 1-ranked North Georgia, returned home to face Gulf South Conference foe Delta State and won the series opener 4-2.

The Warhawks rise to 24-5 on the year with a 14-5 record inside Gulf South action. The Lady Statesmen, meanwhile, drop to 19-17 on the season and 11-11 in conference action.

Molly Cobb returned home with another big performance at the plate, registering a 2-3 day with a two-run single in the first inning to get the Warhawks up and running on offense.

Bailie Barnes went the distance for AUM to continue her strong week in the circle, firing all seven innings while allowing two runs and recording five strikeouts.

AUM raced out to a hot start in the first inning against Delta State, as Allie Miller led off with a single and proceeded to steal two bases before an out was recorded. After an Olivia Aycock walk and a stolen base, Cobb came to the plate and roped a single into right field to score a pair of Warhawks.

With nobody out in the first, the next batter Abby Krueger laced a double into the right-center field gap to score the AUM first basemen from first base to triple the Warhawks lead after one inning of action.

Miller found more creative ways to get herself into scoring position in the second inning after laying down a bunt single and stealing a base. After taking third on a wild pitch, Aycock was able to place a ball to the shortstop, allowing the Warhawks'' left fielder to score from third.

Barnes would continue her groove in the circle through the first three innings but would run into some trouble in the top of the fourth. With the bases loaded and one out, the Lady Statesmen were able to score their first run on a wild pitch but were not able to get any more offense that inning.

Again with the bases loaded in the following inning and less than two outs, Barnes was able to induce a groundball to Cobb at first, who traded the second out of the inning for a run, cutting the AUM lead to 4-2.

After Delta State loaded the bases in the fourth and fifth, Barnes would retire the last six batters of the game to secure her ninth win of the season, giving AUM a 4-2 win in game one of the series.

Games two and three from the AUM Softball Complex will begin tomorrow at noon.

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