CARROLLTON, Ga. - The UWG softball team enjoyed their return home in a big way on Thursday night, opening a three-game set with Delta State with a 13-4, run-rule victory over the Lady Statesmen.
West Georgia (12-22, 5-11 GSC) snapped an eight-game losing streak with the win and outhit Delta State (7-28, 3-13 GSC) 10-4 in the game.
UWG starter Calli Hardison took a no-hitter into the fifth before the Statesmen recorded a hit, and the UWG offense spotted her a 5-0 lead after two innings.
Megan Waites led off the second by getting hit by a pitch and then Madison Vandergriff walked to start the frame. Waites scored on an RBI-single from Daniela David and then Isabella Pinto singled home Vandergriff. Emily Bodenheimer later had a two-RBI double and the fifth run scored on a Blaire Bizette sacrifice fly.
When DSU finally got their first hit in the fifth, they strung together two hits, and pushed a pair of runs across on a Raegan Stafford triple to cut their deficit to three. A third run would later score on an RBI-groundout making it just a two-run game.
West Georgia responded in the bottom half by loading the bases via two walks sandwiched around Waites being hit by yet another pitch. Daniela David then smashed her first career home run in grand slam fashion to give the Wolves a 9-2 lead.
Delta State got a solo shot in the sixth to make it 9-4 in the sixth before UWG pushed four runs across in the sixth to end the game early.
Zekylah Boyd singled to start in sixth, then went to third on a bunt attempt, and then scored on a Bizette single. Makayla Register then singled home a run to extend the lead to six, and a fielder's choice brought home another run and gave Waites an RBI. Vandergriff then doubled home two runs to account for the 13-4 final.
Three Wolves had two hits in the game, with David's 2-for-3 game with a home run and five RBIs leading the way.Pinto and Bodenheimer also had two hits with Bodenheimer picking up two RBIs.
Hardison earned the win, finishing with a line of 6.0 innings pitches, four runs on four hits and three strikeouts.
The Wolves and Lady Statesmen reconvene for a pair of games tomorrow to wrap up the series. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.