West Alabama Reaches Sunday Final With 2-1 Victory Over Tampa

WINTER PARK, Fla. - The University of West Alabama (36-16) softball team advanced to Sunday's Winter Park regional final with a 2-1 victory over The University of Tampa (39-8). The NCAA South Regional game was hosted by Rollins College.

The Tigers struck for the first run of the afternoon, crossing one in the top of the third. The Spartans would later even the score at 1-1 in the fifth on a Susan Jallo single that scored Brittany Joseph.

West Alabama came through with the eventual game-winning run on a lead-off home run by Taylor Beck in the top-half of the sixth inning.

The Spartan offense mustered four hits on the day, and narrowly missed a three-run home run by Brittany Hipple as the slugger hit a ball that sailed just to the left of the leftfield pole.

Deanna Henriott (25-5) started for the Spartans, and went the distance while allowing just four hits and one earned run. The all-Sunshine State Conference selection struck out 10 and walked just one Tiger.

The Spartans will return to the diamond on Saturday night for a contest scheduled for 6 p.m. UT will play the winner of game two of the day between Rollins and the University of Arkansas-Monticello. Live stats and a webcast will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.

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