TOURNAMENT HOMEPAGE
 
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Grace Gilbert earned her 20th win of the season on Thursday with a shutout performance against Spring Hill in the opening game of the NCAA South 1 Region, held at the UWF Softball Complex. With the victory, UWF stays in the winner's bracket and will face either Valdosta State or Tampa on Friday at 1 pm.
 
Gilbert cruised through a perfect first inning before UWF got the scoring started in the bottom half, beginning with a bunt single from Teala Howard. Howard stole second and then scored when Kathleen Smiley hit a fly ball to left-center field that was caught by Spring Hill centerfielder Kaycie Saxton, but Saxton's throw in got away from all SHC defenders and allowed Howard to come across.
 
That one run would be enough support for Gilbert, who improved to a Gulf South Conference-best 20-4 with her fifth shutout of the season. She never allowed a Badger runner to even reach second base in the effort, and her ERA dropped to 1.89 on the year – good for sixth in the GSC.
 
UWF added a run in the second, third, and fifth innings, with Howard scoring three of West Florida's four runs. Howard went 3-for-3 in her first career NCAA Tournament game, marking her 29th multi-hit game this season.
 
In the second, Courtney McLellan singled up the middle with one away before Gilbert moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt. A batter later, Kara Wilson lifted a sacrifice fly to left-center and brought in McLellan to stretch the lead to 2-0.
 
Howard doubled to lead off the third and came around on a fly ball from Smiley that dropped in left-center, and Howard scored in the fifth when SHC attempted to pick her off at third when Mallory Vining stole second. The throw back to third went wide and Howard trotted across the plate with no throw.
 
In all, Gilbert allowed just three hits – one of which was erased by a 6-3 double play in the seventh inning – and one walk. The sophomore retired 21 of the 25 batters she faced on the day. Gilbert also added a double in her 2-for-3 day at the plate.
 
West Florida will face either 4-seed Valdosta State or 5-seed Tampa on Friday at 1 pm at the UWF Softball Complex.