CARROLLTON, Ga. – Kya Draper and Lexi Close put the UWG softball team on their backs on Friday night, propelling the Wolves to a series opening 1-0 win over West Alabama at University Field.
 
Draper needed just one run of support on a night where she won her sixth game, and Lexi Close provided that run, slugging her sixth home run of the season in the fourth inning.
 
The Wolves (12-3, 8-2 GSC) played perfect defense behind Draper who allowed just two baserunners via hits and struck out six, leading the Wolves to their sixth straight victory. The Tigers (10-9, 6-7 GSC) got a good pitching performance of their own from Kacy Noland, as she pitched a complete game, and allowed just the one run on the Close home run.
 
West Georgia had a good scoring chance in the second as they loaded the bases with no one out, but Noland pitched around the trouble, and kept the game scoreless.
 
Close's big opposite field shot led off the fourth inning for the Wolves, and proved to be the difference on a cool March evening. The home run was the 18^th of Close's career, ranking her seventh all-time at UWG.
 
Despite the lack of run support, Draper stayed cool and collected in the circle.
 
"I didn't really feel the pressure because I knew defensively I had them there," said the sophomore from McDonough. "Honestly everything just felt the same, nothing changed, and I just stuck to my original mindset.
 
West Alabama got their only hard-hit ball of the night with two outs in the seventh, putting the potential tying run on the final frame. But Draper continued to dominate striking out the final batter of the night.
 
Close was 2-for-3  with an RBI on the night, registering the only multi-hit game for the Wolves. Kayla Hughes, Alley Taylor, Kristyn Nix, and Madison Slappey each had hits in the game one win.
 
The Wolves and Tigers will reconvene tomorrow for a doubleheader to wrap up the series. First pitch for game one is set for 1 p.m. from University Field.