GULF SHORES, Ala. – The 2022 season began on Saturday for UWG softball with the Wolves splitting a doubleheader in the Gulf Shores Invitational. UWG defeated Spring Hill 3-1 in game one before falling 7-1 to Saint Leo in the second contest.
West Georgia (1-1) had to wait an extra day to take the field for the first time this season after two games were rained out on Friday.
Game One
In the season's opening contest, the Wolves handed Saint Leo their first loss, scoring the game-winning run in the fifth and adding an insurance run in the sixth.
The scoring started in the fourth for the Wolves as
Kristyn Nix led off with a single, stole second, and then scored on a single by
R.J. Janke. Spring Hill tied things up in the fifth, leading off with a triple and later scoring on an error.
But the Wolves would answer right back as back-to-back singles from
Isabella Pinto and
Hannah Scarbrough at the top of the order set things up for Nix. The junior singled to center, scoring Pinto, and giving the Wolves the lead for good.
The game-winning run was a welcome sight for UWG starter
Macy Ann McKnight who earned her second career win on Saturday. The sophomore gave up one run on one hit in five innings of work while striking out three.
McKnight gave way to
Kaley Dowdy who pitched two spectacular innings, striking out six with the only baserunner allowed coming via a base on balls. Dowdy earned her first career save for her efforts.
Alley Taylor scored a sixth-inning insurance run on a sacrifice fly by
Rylee Green, accounting for the final margin.
The top third of the batting order finished game one a combined 6-for-9 and two of the three had a run and a stolen base.
Game Two
The second game of the afternoon started off good for the Wolves with Nix scoring in the first inning, but from there, Saint Leo would score seven unanswered runs to give UWG their first loss of the season.
Alley Taylor got the start in the circle for UWG, pitching for the first time since the 2018 season. The Coral Springs, Florida native went 2.2 innings and gave up four runs total with two of the earned. Taylor struggled with command, walking three, but the defense also made an error behind her.
Dowdy came on again in relief, pitching 3.1 innings and giving up three unearned runs on three hits while striking out three.
The UWG defense made three errors total on the day and the offense struggled with just six hits. Taylor led the Wolves offensively with two hits in game two.
Next Up
The Wolves wrap up their opening weekend with a 2:30 p.m. EST game against Lubbock Christian.
