PENSACOLA, Fla. – A three-run seventh inning was a bit too much for the University of West Florida softball team to come back from on Sunday, in the team's 6-3 loss to Shorter in the series finale. Despite the loss, No. 1 UWF is still at the top of the Gulf South Conference standings with a 16-2 league record and a 33-5 record overall.
 
West Florida got out to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, getting an RBI single from Kathleen Smiley and two ground balls that brought in runs from Jacquelynne Poling and Courtney McLellan. But Shorter would not be held off for long, putting three runs on the board in the top of the second on four hits to even the game.
 
After the second, starting pitcher Tori Perkins found a groove and stayed in it until the seventh. The senior retired 10 consecutive batters and 14 out of 15 from the end of the second through the start of the seventh, allowing only a walk to Kiera Dudley before the final frame.
 
That last inning spoiled an otherwise strong start from Perkins, who was charged with three more runs in the seventh off four Shorter hits.
 
West Florida had opportunities to score but could not quite finish the job in the third and fourth innings. Rhiannon Sassman led off the third with a triple but was called out on runner's interference two batters later when a live ball from Poling hit her in fair territory.
 
UWF also put two runners in scoring position in the fourth but was retired without plating a run.
 
Perkins fell to 8-2 after throwing 6.2 innings, and Grace Gilbert finished off the seventh with a groundout.
 
Next, UWF will visit Union in Jackson, Tennessee, for more GSC action.