Feb. 19, 2010

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Junior pitcher Libby Munson surrendered just one run in seven complete innings and freshman Jessica Womble hit a two-run double in the decisive fifth inning as No. 12 Shorter College upended sixth-ranked William Carey University 4-1 in each team's first game in the Faulkner University Invitational in Montgomery, Ala.

The Lady Hawks (3-0) avenged a 9-1 loss to the Crusaders in the same tournament last season and used a stellar pitching performance from their two-time All-American to stay unblemished through three games in 2010.

Munson, who won her 50th career game, allowed two hits and struck out six in her 2010 debut. She walked three batters, but aside from giving up her only run of the game in the top of the fourth, never found herself in any major trouble.

After a sluggish start, Shorter rallied soon after William Carey struck the first blow.

Trailing 1-0, Shorter scored all of its runs in the fifth inning as a Kara Pollock leadoff double triggered a four-run explosion that effectively put the game out of reach with Munson on the hill.

Emily Clements produced a pinch-hit, RBI single and Womble followed two batters later with her two-run double that put the Lady Hawks up 3-1.

Dandi Ammons scored later in the frame on a passed ball to account for the final margin.

William Carey, which went 42-7 in the 2009, scored on a double steal after getting runners to first and third in the fourth inning. But Munson, who set a Shorter single-season record with a 1.50 earned run average in 2009, snuffed out the threat and never allowed the Crusaders to get into an offensive groove.

Shorter will take on Spring Hill at 4 p.m. today in its second of four games in this weekend's invitational.