MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of West Florida softball team fell in its Gulf South Conference-opener at the University of Montevallo on Friday afternoon, 3-2. No. 4 UWF now stands at 6-4 on the season and will finish the weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday.
 
Montevallo got ahead with an RBI double down the left field line by Sierra Easterwood in the first, but starting pitcher Grace Gilbert held the Falcons off until the seventh from there.
 
Gilbert gave UWF a 2-1 lead in the top of the third with a two-run single to left, scoring Kara Wilson and Teala Howard. Wilson started that third-inning rally with a triple off the wall in right-center field, and Howard was hit by a pitch to put a pair of runners on. After Howard stole second, Gilbert delivered the hard ground ball through the left side of the infield to put the Argonauts ahead.
 
Gilbert found a groove in the middle of her outing, sitting down 10 in a row from the third through the fifth. Unfortunately, West Florida put together a few more chances offensively but was unable to capitalize with runners on.
 
Ally LaForce drew a walk for Montevallo to start the seventh, and she advanced to third after Mallory Vining turned a 4-3 double play on a Caroline Pope grounder to second base. Haley Barnette was then intentionally walked, and Easterwood drew a walk to load the bases, before Mariel Bertossi was hit by a pitch to tie the game and score LaForce. Alexis Cortez then sent a single through the left side of the infield to win the game.
 
Gilbert's two RBIs in the contest gave her a GSC-leading 16 on the season.
 
UWF wraps the series tomorrow with a doubleheader set to start at noon in Montevallo.
 
Fans can keep up with the team by following @UWFSoftball on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.