VIERA, Fla. – The fourth-ranked University of West Florida softball team fell in a 1-0 pitcher's duel to Florida Southern on Sunday morning. UWF now has a 6-3 record and will start conference play next weekend on the road.
 
Grace Gilbert gave an outstanding effort on Sunday but fell to 2-2 on the year. The Chipley, Florida, native went the distance, throwing seven innings and allowing just three hits to the Mocs.
 
The lone run that FSC scored was unearned, dropping Gilbert's season ERA to 1.30. She also induced 19 groundouts, did not walk a batter, and held Florida Southern hitless through 4.1 innings.
 
UWF struggled to get the offense going against FSC pitchers Tiana Hernandez and Kristen Beacham, but the Argonauts still created chances throughout the game. Kayla Mayo led off the third with a walk, but Teala Howard's line drive to short just a batter later ended the threat when Mayo was picked off at first.
 
An inning later, UWF loaded the bases with no outs but could not scratch across a run, and West Florida was held off again in the sixth, despite Ally Merrill's leadoff double.
 
FSC got on the board in the top of the seventh, after Kensie Green singled and scored from third on a UWF error with two away.
 
West Florida was then retired in order in the bottom of the seventh to wrap up a 4-1 weekend at the Florida Tech Invitational.
 
West Florida will start Gulf South Conference play on Friday, February 13 at Montevallo.