On March 4 and March 5, Union University’s softball and baseball teams each competed in a three-game series against the University of West Georgia at Fesmire Field. Each team suffered two losses but secured one win.
After last weekend’s series, the softball team moved to 6-13 overall for the season and 3-6 in the Gulf South Conference (GSC), whereas the baseball team moved to 7-9 overall and 3-5 in the GSC.
In the first Lady Bulldogs game, West Georgia kicked off the scoring in the fourth inning with a double down the left-field line by Kristyn Nix that scored two runs. Shortly after the double by Nix, Emma Bailey followed with her own double, scoring Nix and another runner. In the fifth inning, West Georgia added to their lead with a two-run home run by R.J. Janke. Union was able to score in the sixth inning when Macey Neal, 1-3 with one RBI, tripled into left field scoring Grace White, making the score 6-1. West Georgia quickly answered with two insurance runs in the seventh inning to set the final score at 8-1.
During the second game of the series, Janke hit a three-run home run to right-center field to give the Wolves a 3-0 lead in the third inning. In the sixth inning, Hannah Scarbrough hit a homer to right field, driving in two runs to make the score 5-0. Union scored in the seventh inning when Morgan Jennings, 1-3 with 3 RBIs, hit a double to left field, scoring three. The final score was 5-3.
In the third and final game of the series, the Lady Bulldogs’ bats came to life. To get the scoring started, Idalia Alarcon reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Macey Neal. A pair of singles and an error helped Union jump out to a 5-1 lead in the fourth inning. The Lady Bulldogs kept things rolling in the fifth inning, adding on another three runs, making the score 8-1. The Wolves attempted a late comeback but fell short and ultimately the Lady Bulldogs won 9-5, thanks to the pitching of Reese Taylor, who threw a complete game.
With a doubleheader on Sunday, March 13 and one game on Monday, March 14, the Lady Bulldogs will play Valdosta State University.
Mackenzi David, junior softball player and criminal justice major, is hopeful for the upcoming series.
“I think this weekend will go well coming off a win from this weekend,” David said. “We have momentum and if we continue to work together, we will do well. I hope we win the series. This is a really great team we’re facing, but so are we. We just need to just come and play our game!”
The baseball team also had a great win during the series last weekend against West Georgia. During the first game of the weekend, they got off to a great start when Billy Beckham, 2-3 and one RBI, doubled to right field, scoring Dorian Berry. Second baseman Patrick Music hit a solo home run to right field. In the fourth inning, Josh Bozoian and Blake Barrett each hit a solo home run of their own, making the score 4-0. The Wolves attempted a comeback in the ninth inning, but they came up just short, ending the game, 4-3.
In the second game, Union jumped to an early lead thanks to a sac fly by Music, 2-2 and one RBI. Between the third and seventh innings, the Wolves scored 8 runs, pulling ahead of the Bulldogs and ultimately winning the game 8-5.
In the final game of the weekend, the offenses of both teams showed up ready to win. Both pitchers cruised through the first two innings until the runs started to roll in when West Georgia got out to a one-run lead. The Wolves took a 5-3 lead into the seventh inning when the offenses started trading blows back and forth. West Georgia prevailed with a 10-7 win ending the series.
On March 13-14, the Bulldogs will take on Valdosta State with a doubleheader on Sunday and one game on Monday. The Sunday games are at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The Monday game is at 6:00 p.m.
Music, a graduate student, said his approach to the next series is the same as the last.
“Trust the system and remain positive,” Music said.“We are trending in the right direction. It is just a matter of time before we put it all together.”
Photo by Union University Photo Project.
