OXFORD, Ala. – Senior Molly Pendley came up clutch for Montevallo Softball, hitting a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth to score Emma Hawkins and send the Falcons to day three of the Gulf South Conference Tournament. The seventh-seeded Falcons earned the 1-0 win over No. 6-seed West Alabama in the first elimination game of the tournament.
 
Thursday's win proved to be historic as it marked the 100^th career win for Head Coach Beth Wade. Taylor Lloyd set a new program record for wins in a single season, as she picked up her 15^th win of the year. This surpasses the previous program record of 14 wins that Lloyd set last year.
 
Montevallo was dominant in the circle, as Rachel Whiddon and Taylor Lloyd combined to earn the shutout. Whiddon earned the start and allowed no runs on five hits and struck out one. Lloyd pitched the final four innings and allowed no runs, no hits, and struck out six batters.
 
Both teams threatened in the first inning, putting a pair of runners on base, but neither team would push an early run across.
 
West Alabama threatened again in the top of third with back-to-back singles to open the frame, but Whiddon induced three straight outs to keep the Tigers off the board.
 
Both teams got runners in scoring position in the fifth inning., as Montevallo's Kiley Christopher singled in the bottom half of the inning, but the score remained knotted at zero at the end of five.
 
Pitching and defense continued to dominate, as both teams went down in order in the sixth and seventh frames, sending the game into extra innings.
 
Taylor Lloyd pitched her third 1-2-3 inning in a row in the top of the eighth, giving the Falcons the chance to walk it off in the bottom of the eighth.
 
Emma Hawkins hit a one-out single and Riley Tyree later reached to put two on with two outs. Molly Pendley came up with the crucial hit, as her walk-off single scored Hawkins to secure the 1-0 victory.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 1 | West Alabama 0
Records: Montevallo 31-23 (19-14 GSC) | West Alabama 30-19 (19-13 GSC)
Location: Choccolocco Park | Oxford, Ala.
 
GAME NOTES

• Taylor Lloyd set a new program record for most wins in a single season.
• Head Coach Beth Wade earned her 100^th career win.
• Molly Pendley provided the walk-off single to score Emma Hawkins.
• Lloyd and Rachel Whiddon combined to earn the shutout.

UP NEXT: The Falcons face off against the loser of the game eight, featuring top-seeded Auburn Montgomery and No.-4 seed Alabama Huntsville. The game will take place on Friday at 12:30 p.m. CST.