LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Florida softball team split a doubleheader against Gulf South Conference opponent West Alabama on Saturday afternoon, falling 3-0 in Game 1 before using a three-run seventh inning to take a Game 2 win.
 
The split puts UWF at 9-6 overall and 2-3 in the GSC, with a chance to win the series on Sunday at the UWA Softball Complex, with first pitch set for 1 pm.
 
GAME 1: UWF 0, WEST ALABAMA 3
Grace Gilbert's strong start was spoiled by four Argonauts errors in the front end of the doubleheader. The junior threw six innings and allowed just five hits, but she was charged with three unearned runs.
 
The Tigers got out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first on a Kylie Martin single, and that would be enough run support for starter Kamree Lay. The Argonauts struggled to find an answer against Lay, as she allowed just five hits over seven scoreless frames.
 
But the Argonauts still created a handful of chances throughout the game. Gilbert led off the fourth with a double down the left field line, but UWF was unable to bring her in, and freshman Kayla Mayo doubled with two outs in the third but was left stranded.
 
Teala Howard laid down a bunt single to start the sixth inning, but she was stuck on second after a stolen base, a pair of flyouts and a grounder to end the inning.
 
West Alabama struck for two more runs in the fifth, putting the score at the final 3-0. Gilbert's record fell to 3-4 for the year but her season ERA was lowered to 1.51.
 
GAME 2: UWF 6, WEST ALABAMA 4
The bats came to life in the nightcap – the Argos turned 13 hits into 6 runs to pick up their ninth win of the season, and that was capped off with Angela Agurkis's first career home run, which came in the seventh and proved to be the game-winner.
 
Kayla Mayo also hit her first career home run in the game, a two-run shot that scored Mallory Vining and gave UWF a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning.
 
West Florida's first run came on an Ally Merrill grounder that brought in Gilbert and tied the game at 1-1 in the third.
 
After UWA took a 4-3 lead in the fifth, Agurkis scored Mika Garcia with her home run, and Vining drove a single through the left side to stretch UWF's lead to 6-4.
 
Starting pitcher Kelsey Sweatt struck out eight in the complete-game effort, improving to 4-1 on the year. UWA picked up a run against her in the first, but Sweatt ran into trouble only in the fifth inning. Outside of the fifth frame, the junior pitcher was superb. She struck out eight batters and issued just one walk and five hits over the other six innings.
 
Five Argonauts had multi-hit games in the win. Vining led the way with three hits, while Howard, Gilbert, Garcia, and Merrill each had two.