NASHVILLE – The Trevecca Nazarene University softball team (16-14, 12-14 GSC) split a pair of Gulf South Conference games Friday afternoon at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (32-16, 16-11 GSC). Both games included a close and dramatic finish at Charger Park.
Trevecca rallied to take the opener, 3-2, in extra innings. The host UAH Chargers answered in the second game, scoring five unanswered runs, including the game-winner in the bottom of the sixth and holding off another Trojan rally in the top of the seventh.
SERIES HISTORY
In the NCAA Division II era, UAH owns a 6-5 edge in the all-time series. The Chargers have won three of the last four meetings.
GM 1: Trevecca 3, UAH 2 (8)
The Chargers broke a scoreless tie with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. The Trojans answered in the sixth to even the score at 2-2. The game moved to extra innings tied 2-2.
Kyleigh Burgett singled to open the eighth, and Brookelyn Miles entered as a pinch runner. Miles stole second and, a couple of pitches later, stole third to move into scoring position. With two outs, Bailey Goad delivered a single to the pitcher on a 1-1 pitch, scoring Miles for the go-ahead run.
In the bottom of the eighth, Goad allowed a leadoff single but retired the next three batters to secure the win.
The win in game one gives the Trojans eight victories in their last 11 outings.
CIRCLE / BOX NOTES
Bailey Goad (11-4) earned the win with another complete game.
Goad pitched all eight innings, walked four and struck out four.
Goad went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, a stolen base and an RBI.
Addy Grace Summers singled and scored a run.
Kyleigh Burgett went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Trevecca produced seven hits.
GM 2: UAH 5, Trevecca 4
Trevecca built a 4-0 lead with a four-run second inning, scoring on five hits. Sarah Nicholson opened the inning with a single while behind 1-2 in the count. Zoe Lawrence and Callie Williams followed with back-to-back singles, with Nicholson scoring on Williams' hit. Kyleigh Burgett doubled next to drive in Lawrence. Shay Hollingsworth added a single, scoring Williams, and Burgett scored on a Raegan Hunter one-out sacrifice bunt.
UAH scored a run in the fourth, then tied the game at 4-4 with a three-run fifth. The tie held until the Chargers scored in the bottom of the sixth.
In the seventh, Callie Williams singled to lead off, and Brookelyn Miles entered as a pinch runner and advanced into scoring position with a stolen base. Miles was left stranded.
CIRCLE / BOX NOTES
All six Trevecca hits came from different players.
Parker Herrin (4-8) took the loss, allowing five hits and two walks.
After opening the season 4-0 in non-conference play, Trevecca faced an early test in Gulf South Conference action, dropping its first league series at home to Valdosta State.
The Trojans then faced consecutive GSC series against nationally ranked Montevallo on the road and West Florida at home. Trevecca took a game in each series.
A turning point came on the Hill with the program's first GSC series win of the season against Mississippi College. The Trojans followed with a road series win at Christian Brothers.
Trevecca added another result with a win in its series against nationally ranked West Alabama. Back at home, the Trojans recorded their first GSC series sweep of the season against Delta State.
Trevecca has taken at least one game in every series since the opening sweep by Valdosta State and has won three of its eight series this season.
With the split Friday, Trevecca enters Saturday's series finale at UAH with an opportunity to secure another conference road series.
NEXT ON THE DIAMOND
Trevecca and UAH conclude their three-game Gulf South Conference series Saturday at 1 p.m.
Trevecca returns home for a six-game homestand to close the regular season. Lee University (17-29, 8-16 GSC) visits for a three-game series beginning Friday, April 24, at 3 p.m. The teams play a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m.
The regular season concludes with a three-game series against Auburn Montgomery (36-7, 19-7 GSC) on the Hill during graduation weekend. The series begins with a doubleheader Friday (May 1) and concludes Saturday (May 2).
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