ST. AUGUSTINE – Flagler College's offense came alive in defeating the University of West Alabama, 9-3, in its final game of the Southern Softball Showdown on Sunday afternoon at the South Commons Softball Complex. Flagler lost its first contest on Sunday to Union University (Tenn.), 10-1, in five innings.
The Saints overall record move to 2-4.
Flagler and West Alabama combined to score seven runs in the third inning, but the Saints went on to plate five unanswered runs.
Whitney Woodard,
Morgan Murphy and
Mackenzie Conley singled to open the third.
Maddy Murphy then smacked a grand slam to right field as part of her four-hit game.
Flagler played long ball again in the fourth. Conley belted her second homer of the season after a sacrifice fly by
Morgan Murphy scored Woodard.
The Saints scored three more times and the Tigers were held scoreless the remainder of the game. The top five hitters in Flagler's lineup combined to record 13 of the team's 17 hits and scored eight of its nine runs. Conley and
Natalie Murphy each tallied three hits.
Katelynn Smith (1-2) went the distance and allowed three runs on eight hits.
Andrea Edmonds suffered the loss for the Tigers falling to 0-2. The Saints touched her up for six runs on 10 hits over 3.2 innings.
During the first game, the Lady Bulldogs jumped on the Saints in the first inning plating five runs. Rachel Ridolfi doubled to center field scoring two and the next batter, Gabby Morris homered to left field to cement a 5-0 lead.
The Saints got on the board in the top of the second.
Jaclyn Mijuskovic singled with two outs in front of
Garland Evans. Evans tripled to right field sending Mijuskovic home to bring the Flagler within four runs of the Union, 5-1.
The Lady Bulldogs put another five-spot on the board in the third frame with three singles, three walks and a Saints error.
Union out-hit Flagler 7-4, but the Saints committed two errors while the Lady Bulldogs were perfect in the field. Union was also issued six free passes.
Callie Reed (0-1) suffered the loss for Flagler allowing five runs on four hits through an inning of work. Ally Mercano tossed two innings for the Saints surrendering five runs on three hits and
Samantha Hays added an inning of work out of the bullpen. Hays issued a walk but did not give up a hit.
Hannah Ridolfi (1-1) threw all five innings for union and earned the win. She allowed one run on four hits.
Flagler will return to St. Augustine to host the South/Southeast Region Crossover starting on Friday (Feb. 10). The Saints open the tournament against Florida Southern College at 1 p.m. at Flagler Field.
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