PENSACOLA, Fla. – The sixth-seeded Montevallo softball team fell to No. 3-seed West Alabama, 7-5, in the first round of the NCAA South Region Championship on Thursday.
West Alabama got off to a hot start, scoring five runs in the first three innings to take an early 5-0 advantage.
Montevallo looked to respond in the top of the fourth, as Becca Benton reached on a hit-by-pitch and Emma Hawkins doubled, to put a pair of Falcons in scoring position. Kiley Christopher brought home the first Montevallo run, hitting a two-out single to score Benton's pinch runner, Kiera Olson. Lillie Piersol followed that up with a walk to load the bases and Taylor Rogers provided a bases clearing triple to cut the deficit to one run, 5-4.
The Tigers added a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead back out to three runs, 7-4.
Montevallo looked to rally in the top of the seventh, as Peyton Hull doubled and Bentlee Stiner reached on a fielder's choice. A sacrifice hit from Makayla Peters brought home Hull, but the Tigers ultimately held on to secure the 7-5 victory.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: No. 6 Montevallo 5 | No. 3 West Alabama 7
Records: No. 6 Montevallo 39-17 | No. 3 West Alabama 44-12-1
Location: UWF Softball Complex | Pensacola, Fla.
GAME NOTES
UP NEXT: Montevallo faces tournament host, No. 2-seed West Florida on Friday at 2:30 p.m. CST in an elimination game.
