ROME -- The Lady Hawks came from behind Saturday evening to open Gulf South Conference play with a 7-6 win over Union.

Shorter improves to 9-4 on the season; while Union slips to 6-3 overall.

The Lady Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead, scoring a run in the top of the first. Before adding three runs in the second to make it a 4-0 game.

But, from there the Lady Hawks began chipping away; scoring three runs in the fifth and sixth inning to take a 6-4 lead.

In the fifth, Maddie Hunt delivered a two RBI triple to plate Taylor Martin and Hailey Baswell. Hunt then came in on a sacrifice fly to centerfield from Savannah Thomas, cutting Union's lead to one. In the six, Kameron Carter doubled to lead things off, and came in one batter later as Peyton Barthel reached on an error; before Baswell delivered a two RBI double to left center, bringing in Dani Lukas and Taylor Martin – who reached on a fielder's choice and a walk, respectively.

Union tied things up in their next at bat, to force extra innings.

And, despite chances from both teams the game remainder scoreless until the tenth; when the tiebreaker rule was used. Shorter worked around trouble in the top of the tenth, stranding two runners, and pulled through in the bottom of the inning as Martin tallied an RBI single to right center to bring in Ericka Bynum – who'd been placed on second to start the inning.

Baswell led the offensive effort with three hits; wile Carter, Martin and Hunt added two hits each.

Kalei Clark earned the win, pitching the final 3.1 innings in relief of Payton Lippert, holding the Lady Bulldogs scoreless on two hits with two strikeouts. Lippert tallied five strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work.

The Lady Hawks will be return to action Sunday afternoon, February 19, for doubleheader beginning at 1:00pm.