FLORENCE, Ala. – The University of West Florida softball team dropped its NCAA Tournament-opener to No. 4 North Alabama on Thursday evening, despite a strong all-around from the Argonauts. With the loss, West Florida moves into the next round of the Tournament, where the team will face Embry-Riddle.

UWF got off to a strong start, putting two runs on the board in the first inning against North Alabama starter Laken Distefano. After Meghan Toney dropped a double down the left field line with one away, Kathleen Smiley singled into right field to bring Toney in and put West Florida up 1-0.

Just two pitches later, some clutch, heads-up baserunning on a ball in the dirt from Smiley put her on second, and Callan Taylor hit a grounder that got by UNA second baseman Alex Brown, allowing Smiley to slide in safely at home.

Starting pitcher Sarah Maloney quickly found a groove with a 2-0 lead, striking out Bailey Nelson to start the bottom of the first and getting Gulf South Conference batting leader Kara Brewer to ground into an inning-ending 4-3 double play. Maloney had just one miscue through the first five innings – a solo home run by Hannah Shollenberger to lead off the second – and she retired seven in a row from the second through the fourth.

The UWF offense fell into some bad timing in the middle of the game, putting a runner on in the third and fourth innings but ultimately grounding into a double play in each inning to slow any potential rally.

Likewise, West Florida got some standout defensive play in the middle of the contest from shortstop Mika Garcia and third baseman Tiona Hill, who each helped keep UWF's 2-1 lead intact.

North Alabama was able to break through in the sixth, however, getting timely run-scoring hits from Reagan Tittle and Katie Eakes with two outs in the inning to take a late 3-2 lead. That sixth inning soured an otherwise excellent start for Maloney, who allowed only two hits and one run in her first five innings of work in the circle.

West Florida was unable to bring across any runs against GSC Pitcher of the Year Megan Garst, who entered in the sixth inning after Toney's third hit of the afternoon. That marked Toney's second three-hit game of the year and her team-best 16th multi-hit game this season, and she has now reached base in 15 consecutive games, dating back to April 15.

Smiley's two-hit game was her sixth of the season and she stretched her on-base streak to seven games. Her first-inning RBI was also the 105th of her career, making her UWF's active career leader in runs driven in.

West Florida will be back in action on Friday at 4:30 p.m. against No. 22 Embry-Riddle.