MEMPHIS -
RJ Simpson smack a grand slam with two outs, in the bottom of the seventh, to help give the Christian Brothers University softball team a thrilling 16-15 (8) victory over West Alabama on Sunday, at Bland Field.
After Simpson's grand slam sent the game into extra innings,
Memory Willingham executed a perfectly placed bunt, that scored
Savannah Crockett, to give CBU the win in the bottom of the eighth.
The Lady Bucs trailed 15-10 going into the bottom of the sixth inning.
FINAL: Lady Bucs 10 (8-19, 2-10 GSC) | Tigers 16 (14-13, 6-6 GSC)
GAME CHANGER:
Down to her final strike, Simpson smashed a grand slam to tie the game at 15 in the bottom of the seventh.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
CBU finished with a 19-14 advantage in hits.
The Lady Bucs racked up six extra base hits, including four home runs and two doubles.
Simpson finished 4-for-5 with a double, a grand slam and six RBIs.
Memory Willingham,
Kendall Westbrooks and
Cara Alexander finished with three hits apiece. Two of the hits for Alexander were doubles, while Westbrooks hit her second home run of the series.
Simpson and Westbrooks scored three runs apiece.
Relief pitcher
Macy Cumming earned the win, surrendering four unearned runs in 3.1 innings with five strikeouts.
KEY PLAYS:
The teams combined to score 10 runs in the first inning, with the Lady Bucs answering four UWA runs with six of their own.
The six run bottom of the first was highlighted by the two-RBI double by Alexander.
After the Tigers took a 7-6 lead into the bottom of the fourth, the Lady Bucs responded with four runs to regain the lead.
The two-run home run from Westbrooks gave CBU an 8-7 lead.
UWA then scored four runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Four of the eight runs were unearned.
In the sixth, a sacrifice fly by
Ashlynn Smith got the Lady Bucs to within 15-11.
After UWA retired two straight batters, in the bottom of the seventh, three straight CBU batters reached base to set up the heroics from Simpson.
Relief pitcher
Macy Cumming stranded two UWA batters in the top of the eighth to help keep the game tied at 15.
With runners on first and third, with one out, Willingham placed a bunt perfectly down the third base line to win the game.
NOTABLES:
The 19 hits are the most for CBU since it recorded 20 against Bellarmine (2.10.19).
The six RBIs for Simpson are the most by a CBU player since Jennifer Gonzales recorded eight against LeMoyne-Owen (3.31.15).
The three hits for Alexander are a career-high.
UP NEXT:
The Lady Bucs are scheduled to return to action on Wednesday, March 23 when they travel to Miles for a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3 PM.
