MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Montevallo softball team lost game one of a Saturday afternoon doubleheader to the University of West Alabama 8-7. UM is now 11-15 overall and 6-10 in Gulf South Conference play.
The Falcons got off to a blazing start, scoring four runs in the in the bottom of the first.
Brooke Ingram scored on an error after being walked and stealing third.
Holly LaForce Henderson then walked and stole second.
Sierra Easterwood stepped up to the plate next and also walked. Henderson and Easterwood advanced to second and third on a wild pitch.
Mariel Bertossi laid down a bunt to bring Henderson home next. Bertossi stole second and Easterwood scored on a wild pitch in UM's next at-bat.
Sydnee Pawlak then roped a double into right center field to bring Bertossi home and make it a 4-0 game.
The Tigers earned two back in the top of the second, but the Falcons responded by adding one more in the home half. Henderson knocked a double into left center field to bring Ingram home for the second time in the ball game.
UWA tacked on another run in the top of the fourth, but the Falcons countered with one of their own in the bottom half.
Callie Ryan doubled to lead things off for UM in the fourth, and was brought home on an Ingram single into left center field to make it 6-3.
West Alabama exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth. The Tigers hit a two-run homer and scored two unearned runs in the inning to claim the lead.
Both teams would not score again until the seventh inning. Montevallo had runners on the corners with no outs in the bottom of the seventh and nearly pulled off the comeback. Bertossi singled to center field to bring
Alexis Cortez home and advance Henderson to second and make it an 8-7 game in favor of UWA.
Fallon Groves then reached on a fielder's choice that put the game-tying run just 60 feet away from home plate. UM could not get any more offense going and left runners stranded on the corners.
Bertossi led the Falcons at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and scoring one run. Ingram was also a large contributor, going 2-for-2, walking twice and scoring two runs.
