February 28, 2016 PENSACOLA, Fla. –
Kalyn Chapman struck out five batters over 2 2/3 innings, allowing just one hit, and hit a game-winning two-run home run on Sunday to help the University of West Florida softball team complete a series sweep over No. 18 Valdosta State. West Florida has now won nine straight games, dating back to a mid-week split at Spring Hill on February 17.
The 17-4 start to the season is UWF's best since the team matched that record in 2010. The series marks the third time UWF has swept Valdosta State since the 2006 campaign.
VSU started the scoring with a sac fly from Danielle Patterson in the second. Her fly ball was lifted into left-center field, and the run came across after
Emily Pettigrew's catch. The Lady Blazers threatened in the third again, but the inning came to a close on a 9-5-4 putout that found pinch runner Kaylee Brown caught at second base after
Rachel Wright made a catch along the right field line.
Sarah Maloney came in relief of
Becca Taylor in the third, with Taylor's final line reading one run allowed on four hits while striking out one. Maloney allowed just three hits over her 2 1/3 innings and improved her record to 4-1, while Chapman closed the game out and earned her first save of the season.
The Argos took a lead in the third on a two-run double from
Meghan Toney that brought in
Chelsy Krantz and Wright. Krantz led the inning off with a walk and was advanced by a sacrifice bunt from
Caitlin Steel and a single from Wright.
Kalyn Chapman extended the lead with a two-run home run off the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, bringing in Pettigrew and putting the score at 4-1.
In the fifth, VSU scratched across two more runs and cut the deficit to 4-3. A Brandy Morgan sacrifice fly brought in the first, and Danielle Patterson drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the second.
Chapman came to the circle in the fifth, just after VSU scored. With the bases loaded and two outs, Chapman struck out VSU leadoff hitter Jaime Phillips and held the West Florida lead at 4-3. In the sixth, GSC leader in home runs and RBI Kiley Rusen led off with a double. Chapman induced an infield fly ball in foul territory that was caught by
Rhiannon Sassman and struck out the next two batters to strand Rusen at second.
Rusen was held to 2-11 on the weekend with one double and no RBI.
Chapman retired the side in order in the seventh, forcing a fly out to center, a groundout to second and striking out catcher Lauren Shaw.
UWF will be back in action on Wednesday with a doubleheader against Lindenwood, with the first game set to begin at 4 p.m. at the UWF Softball Complex.
For information on all UWF athletics, visit
www.GoArgos.com.
