Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ROME, Ga. – The Union University softball team split with Sorter University in a non-conference double header on the road Tuesday afternoon. The Bulldogs defeated the Hawks 4-2 in eight innings the first game, and lost 9-11 in the second game. Union moved to 5-8 overall, and Sorter moved to 4-9 on the season.
 
In the first game, Union struck first in the top of the fifth inning when Mackenzi David scored off of a double to left center hit by Morgan Jennings. The Bulldogs scored again in the fifth on a double steal as Alyssa Ward stole second drawing a throw allowing Morgan Jennings to then steal home. In the bottom of the inning Shorter plated two runs on a single to left field, this tied the game and forced the game into extra innings. In the top of the eighth inning Union tacked on two more runs as Fallon Groves scored on a single by Brook Puckett, and David scored on a sacrifice fly from Jennings. The Bulldogs held off the Hawks in the bottom of the inning earning the win. Puckett led Union with three hits, and Jennings led the team in RBI's with two. Laken DiStefano started in the circle for the Bulldogs tossing 5.0 innings earning three strikeouts. She allowed two runs on five hits and two walks. Olivia Baker pitched in relief, throwing 3.0 innings only giving up three hits. Baker was credited with the win which improved her record to 2-3 on the season.
 
In the second game, Union scored early as Morgan Jennings scored on a sacrifice fly from Grace White. The Bulldogs tacked on two more runs in the third inning as Idalia Alarcon scored on a double from Baylee Stewart, and Stewart scored on a single up the middle from White. Shorter answered back in the bottom of the inning scoring four runs of their own taking the lead after the third 4-3. In the bottom of the fourth the Hawks added another run to their lead making the score 5-3 after the fourth. In the top of the fifth, Union plated four runs taking the lead two of those coming from a Jennings home run, and the others came a double from Macy Neal allowing White to score and then Neal scoring after Puckett got caught stealing second. Shorter scored in the bottom of the fifth making the score Union on top 7-6 after five. Union picked up two more runs in the sixth as Jennings scored on a throwing error and White scoring on a double by Neal. The Hawks rallied in the bottom of the innings scoring five runs on four hits, two of those being a home run and a triple that scored two. The final score of game two was Shorter on top 11-9. Baker started for Union in the circle throwing 3.0 innings earning three strikeouts. She allowed seven runs on nine hits and two walks. Kira Finkley pitched in relief, throwing 2.2 innings earning three strikeouts. She allowed four runs on five hits and four walks. Charli Rice threw 0.1 innings walking one.
 
Up next for Union is a three game conference series on the road against the University of Alabama Huntsville. The first game is set to take place Saturday, Feb 26 at 12:00 p.m.
 
-UNION-