NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of
Louisiana produced stellar pitching and hitting Saturday in a softball doubleheader sweep
of Talladega at Wesley Barrow Stadium.
XULA won 8-0 in the first game — it was
stopped in the fifth inning because of the eight-run rule — and 9-2 in the second.
XULA will continue its six-game home stand
with a noon doubleheader April 12 — one week from Monday — against Mississippi
University for Women. An April 10 home doubleheader against Spring Hill has been canceled.
In the opener
Destyn Jones pitched
the first shutout and first complete game for XULA's first-year program. Jones allowed
two hits, walked three, hit a batter and struck out one.
"The pitch-calling was good," Jones said.
"I wanted to jam the batters on the inside, and it worked for the most part."
XULA opened the doubleheader with three first-inning runs.
Mecolett Bradley singled home
Tamia Washington and
Alison Curlin, then Jones singled home Bradley.
XULA ended the opener by scoring four times
in the fifth inning. Washington, Bradley and
Mekayla Marshall hit run-scoring singles,
and
Brittany Ensley doubled home a run.
Bradley was 3-for-3 in the opener with with three runs and three RBIs.
XULA had four extra-base hits in the second game, including two
Endya Gillard doubles
and
Alison Curlin's first home run of the season — the team's first since Feb. 27.
XULA took the lead for good in the fourth inning when Washington singled home Curlin to make it 3-2,
then Bradley hit her second triple of the day to score Washington. XULA tacked on five sixth-inning runs,
two on bases-loaded walks and another on Curlin's inside-the-park homer.
Ensley pitched four scoreless relief innings to earn the second-game victory.
For the day Bradley and Washington had four hits apiece, and Bradley and Jones had four RBIs apiece.
Bradley reached base 6-of-7 times.
"We were more aggressive today," Jones said of her team's
offensive philosophy. "We were looking to make plays."
XULA is 5-12, and Talladega is 6-12.
