GULF SHORES, Ala. – The University of West Florida softball season got off to a strong start on Friday, as senior Becca Taylor and freshman and Crestview, Florida, native Taylor Rolison combined for a no-hitter in a 12-0 win over Miles at the Gulf Coast Invitational. The game marked UWF's first no-hitter since 2015, when Taylor and Rebecca Hein threw a perfect game against Miles on March 25.
 
Taylor had no problem cruising through her two innings of work, totaling two groundouts and four strikeouts, with three of those coming in the second inning. The Panama City, Florida, native needed just 18 pitches to get her work done, and she threw 15 strikes.
 
Rolison walked the second batter she faced, but she quickly settled in and retired the next eight Miles hitters to wrap the game up quickly. The rookie struck out the final four batters who came up.
 
The UWF offense came out in full force in the season-opener, with the first five batters of the game recording hits in the first inning. UWF took a 3-0 lead into the second after Jacey Castro, Kathleen Smiley and Callan Taylor each had RBI singles.
 
The second inning was even better for UWF, as the Argonauts batted around, plated nine, and totaled 10 hits in the frame. The rally began with a single from Caitlin Steel and a walk from Sara Spears, before Rhiannon Sassman roped a triple down the right field line. Meghan Toney followed with an RBI single up the middle and Smiley blasted a two-run home run into right-center field to put the score at 8-0.
 
After three consecutive UWF hits, Steel came to the plate again and hit her second single of the inning, scoring Callan Taylor. Sassman drew a bases-loaded walk and Toney and Castro each had RBI singles to finish the scoring and give UWF a 12-0 lead.
 
Toney led all players with three hits on the day, and she was one of seven Argonauts with multiple hits, including newcomer Tiona Hill. Sassman and Smiley each had two RBIs, a team high, while Sassman, Toney and Steel each scored twice.
 
West Florida will face Rollins and North Georgia in Gulf Shores on Saturday, at 10 am and 12:30 pm, respectively. UWF is 4-4 all-time against Rollins and has never faced North Georgia.