MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Union University softball team split their two Saturday games in the Gulf South Conference Opening Festival. This festival begins the GSC softball schedule and matches up teams that will not face each other in the normal 3-game weekend series starting next weekend. All games played count as league games. 

In Union's first game, the Lady Bulldog were the home team against West Georgia. Union fell behind early when UWG scored a run in the top of the first on a wild pitch. The score stayed 1-0 until Union scored three times in the bottom of the sixth. Haley Barnette doubled to drive in Molly McKelvy and Sara Smith. Later in the inning, Peyton Mathis singled to score drive in Barnette. That was plenty for Gabby Morris (3-2) who tossed a complete game, allowing just two hits and one run with six strikeouts and two walks. Union got five hits in the game from five different players. 

The second game featured Union and Auburn-Montgomery with AUM as the home team. Union scored first in the fourth inning. Mathis recorded an infield single, scoring Kristen Pickens. In the sixth, AUM finally got on the board with an RBI single. The score stayed 1-1 until the bottom of the ninth when Duschell singled to drive in Harris. A good throw from Emily Bennett in center and a good block by Pickens at the plate made the play at the plate extremely close. Union again had five hits, with Morris and Pickens leading with two each. Parker Davis started for Union in the circle, going six innings, allowing four hits and one run with six walks and two strikeouts. Morris tossed the final 2.2 innings, taking the loss, allowing one run on two hits. 

Union plays North Alabama at 12 noon February 18 to wrap up the festival. 

-UNION-