The Lady Bulldogs began their conference season at the softball opening weekend festival in Montgomery, Ala., last weekend, kicking it off on Saturday with a 3-1 win against the University of West Georgia, a 1-2 loss to Auburn University Montgomery on Saturday afternoon and a 0-5 loss to University of North Alabama on Sunday.
On Saturday, the ladies geared up for the first conference game of the 2018 season, sun shining on the Alabama field and the temperature pleasantly warm for a mid-February day. The bulldogs came out swinging on Saturday, their first game beginning around noon against University of West Georgia.
The lady bulldogs won that game 3-1. UWG scored first, but the Bulldogs came back at the bottom of the sixth with three runs. Freshman short stop Sarah Smith and junior first baseman Haley Barnette led the team in batting in the first game of the weekend, with Barnette moving two players across home base with one of her hits and Smith at bat three times with one hit and one run.
The second game began Saturday afternoon against Auburn University Montgomery. The Lady Bulldogs started strong, scoring first in the fourth. AUM later met Union’s score in the sixth, maintaining a score of 1-1 until the ninth. Sophomore pitcher Gabby Morris and sophomore outfielder Kristen Pickens led the team in hits. AUM came back with a run, making the final score 1-2, a loss for the lady bulldogs.
On Sunday, the lady bulldogs played one game, wrapping up the weekend against University of North Alabama. Graduate student and center fielder Emily Bennett had two walks and two stolen bases. Union, however, still suffered a difficult loss at 0-5, UNA.
The Lady Bulldogs are ready to use this past weekend’s games to fuel them into the rest of the season.
“We are really focused on keeping positive energy, making adjustments at the plate, having a tight defense and playing for each other as one,” Pickens said. “We are focused on becoming champions. This is how we are going to win ball games: together.”
“This weekend showed us what we need to work on, but it also showed just how hard this team is willing to work to get the win,” Smith said. “After this season, I want teams to dread playing us. I want to give our lone senior, Emily Bennett, the best season of her career. My goal is to make it to the conference tournament and then on to get a ring.”
The Lady Bulldogs will play a series against Shorter at home this weekend, with two games on Saturday, Feb. 24 and one on Sunday, Feb. 25.
