On Saturday, Feb. 6, the baseball team kicked off the 2021 season with a series of games at Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn., falling short in each. Union lost by scores of 8-0, 3-2 and 12-2.
The next weekend the team competed against the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Ala., this time finding themselves on the other side of a sweep. Union won the first game by a score of 3-2, the second 17-7 and the last 8-7 in 10 innings. Their victory over UAH put Union 3-3 in the Gulf South Conference.
“The win over Alabama Huntsville was exciting obviously but it was also motivating as well,” senior first baseman and outfielder John Plattner said. “They are notoriously towards the top of the GSC, and for us to play like we did not only speaks to our hard work in the offseason but also the talent we have in our program. Our coaches believe that we can compete with anyone if we execute the little things and play fearlessly.”
The softball team had their first games at the Charger Chillout in Huntsville, Ala. on Friday, Feb. 5. They played against Harding University and lost by a score of 6-3. The second game, against the University of West Alabama, resulted in a 7-6 loss. Union then grabbed a 12-9 win against the University of Alabama in Huntsville on Saturday, Feb. 6.
“The win against UAH was big for us,” sophomore infielder Grace White said. “They’re ranked, so to show people that we’re good enough to beat a ranked team is pretty cool. One of my teammates also got hurt pretty bad in that game so to pull out the win for her was really special as well.”
Young Harris College in Young Harris, Ga. was Union’s final opponent at the Charger Chillout. Union lost by a score of 12-2.
COVID-19 caused last year’s baseball and softball seasons to be cut short. While both teams have been back in full swing for the 2021 season, there are a few challenges they have to face, such as being tested every week and last-minute adjustments to game schedules.
“After the season got canceled last year because of COVID-19, it felt like it would be forever before we would get to play again, and now that it’s here, it’s just like one of the best feelings in the world,” White said.
Starting March 23, Union’s games against Young Harris College will be the only two that are non-conference. All of the other games this season will be with GSC.
For their next game, the baseball team will play the University of West Alabama in Livingston, Ala. They will compete on Friday, Feb. 19 and Saturday, Feb. 20.
The softball team will compete on Saturday, Feb. 20 and Sunday, Feb. 21 in Cleveland, Tenn. Competing against Lee University, it will be the first Gulf South Conference game of the season.
