Union University athletics - men's & women's basketball, softball

Union University athletics – men’s & women’s basketball, softball

Union men back in first place following 87-66 win over West Alabama

JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University men’s basketball team posted an 87-66 win over the University of West Alabama Saturday evening at Fred DeLay Gymnasium/David Blackstock Court. Union improved to 20-6 overall and 14-4 in the Gulf South Conference. West Alabama dropped to 21-5 on the season and 14-4 in league play.

Union has now defeated West Alabama twice this season, giving the Bulldogs the tiebreaker if needed. Union was led by Tyree Boykin with 28 points, 17 of which came in the first half. He finished 4-of-8 from 3-point range. Boe Nguidjol added 15 points, Justin Debuck 12 points, and Jeremiah Littlepage 11 points. Union shot 63 percent from the field.

Up next for Union will be a pair of road games at Shorter and Lee, February 24 and 26 to close out the regular season. recent (8-19) from 3-point range, and 64 percent (9-14) from the free throw line.

Union women defeat West Alabama

JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University women’s basketball team defeated the University of West Alabama 90-51 Saturday afternoon in the final regular season home game at Fred DeLay Gymnasium/David Blackstock Court.

Union improved to 21-2 overall and a league best 16-0 in the Gulf South Conference. West Alabama dropped to 15-9 on the season and 9-7 in league play.

Union is ranked No. 5 in the most recent WBCA Coaches’ Poll and D2SIDA Media Poll, while also hold the No. 1 spot in this week’s NCAA Regional Rankings. Union moved its overall winning streak to 18 straight games, its home court winning streak to 18 games, and its GSC winning streak to 16 games.

Union now needs just one more win or a Valdosta State loss to clinch the regular season title.

Union softball takes two of three games against Lee University

JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University Softball team swept the day taking both games in the doubleheader against Lady Flames of Lee University. Union opened up Gulf South Conference play Saturday afternoon at Fesmire Field.

Union won the first game 6-5 and took the second game 6-1. Union improved to 4-6 overall and 2-0 in the Gulf South Conference. Lee fell to 4-7 overall and 0-2 in league play.

In the first game, Lee struck first when Taylor De Adder hit into a fielder’s choice scoring Carissa Frost. Later in the inning, Lee plated two more after Javaria Smith scored on a sacrifice fly hit by Annalyn Ormsby, and De Adder scored on a double hit by Kylie Bohl making the score 3-0 at the end of the first. Lee went on to plate one in the second and one in the third making the score 5-0 after the third.

In the fourth inning, Mackenzi David hit a grand slam, pulling Union to within one after the fourth. Macey Neal added a long ball to her stat line evening up the score at five each in the bottom of the sixth. Idalia Alarcon laid down a suicide squeeze to score Fallon Groves in the bottom of the sixth, giving Union its first lead at 6-5.

Macey Neal led Union with two hits, one being a home run. David led Union in RBI’s with four after her grand slam. Olivia Baker started in the circle for Union she threw 5.2 innings allowing three hits, one run, and two walks. Baker had six strikeouts and received her first win as a starter. Kira Finkley would come into pitch in relief. She threw 1.1 innings earning two strikeouts, allowing four hits, four runs, and one walk.

Union won game 2, 6-1. Lee scored first in the third inning when Rylie Goodridge sent a solo shot over the left-center wall. Union answered back in the bottom of the third as Alyssa Ward hit an infield single to the shortstop, both Bayleigh Carneal and Idalia Alarcon came in to score on the throwing error by the shortstop.

With Union leading two one going into the fourth, the bats stayed hot as Macey Neal scored on a sacrifice fly hit by Mackenzi David in the fourth. In the fifth Union plated another as Morgan Jennings scored on a single hit by Grace White.

In the bottom of the sixth Union plated two more as Fallon Groves scored on a sacrifice fly hit by Idalia Alarcon, and David scored on an error when Morgan Jennings reached on an error to the second basemen.

Union fell to Lee, 11-2, in the series final, Sunday.

(PHOTO: Union University softball team)