Valdosta, Ga. -- The Lady Hawks fell to No. 16 North Alabama Friday afternoon on the second day of the Gulf South Conference Tournament.

The Lions took the lead early scoring three times in the first inning. Shorter answered in the bottom of the inning with a run of their own as Niki Cook scored on a sacrifice bunt from Kendall Johnson after leading off with a single and a stolen base. North Alabama made it a 4-1 game with a run in the second and added a run in each the fourth, sixth, and seventh innings for the 7-1 final score.

Amanda Blanchard took the loss for the Lady Hawks allowing five runs – two earned – on five hits with one strikeout in three innings. Kalei Kimbrell turned in her third appearance in as many games, allowing two runs on five this with two strikeouts in four innings of work.

Cook, Maggie Meacham, Ericka Bynum and Kameron Carter each recorded a hit for Shorter.

The Lady Hawks will look to stay alive in the tournament as they take on No. 11 Alabama Huntsville Saturday morning at 10:00am with the winner taking on North Alabama for the championship.