FULL PDF NOTES
STATS | VIDEO
 
PENSACOLA, Fla. – The University of West Florida softball team will return to the friendly confines of the UWF Softball Complex this Friday and Saturday to open conference play against West Alabama in a three-game series. The Argonauts stand at 3-3 on the year.
 
The series opener on Friday is set for a 5 pm first pitch, and Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled to start at 1 pm. Each game will feature a live video broadcast and live stats, the links for which can be found above or at GoArgos.com/Softball.
 
In addition, University of West Florida athletics is now increasing attendance to 25 percent capacity for all softball home games at the UWF Softball Complex. Each game is first come, first serve to the general public. A set number of tickets will be held aside for Argonaut Athletic Club Booster members. AAC members can collect their tickets at the ticket window on gameday with their booster club card. Tickets are $7 for general admission, $5 for seniors, military members, and visiting students, and free for UWF students, UWF faculty and staff, and children under 6 years old.
 
Gates will open 60 minutes prior to first pitch. Tailgating in the parking lot is not allowed, and, as a reminder, pets are not allowed. Concessions will be open on Saturday only for the doubleheader. Face coverings and at least six feet of social distancing will be required by spectators and staff at the UWF Softball Complex. All other COVID-19 visitor compliance guidelines must be followed.  
 
 
ABOUT LAST WEEK
The Argonauts didn't get all the results they wanted in the trip to North Georgia last weekend, coming back with a 1-3 record against UNG and Hillsdale. But the team still had plenty to be happy with -- Ally Merrill continued her hot streak at the plate to start the season, batting .583 over four games; Grace Gilbert rebounded from Friday with a solid start on Saturday; Kara Wilson hit a pair of home runs; and Merrill and Brett Leiva each hit their first career round-trippers on Saturday.
 
Of course, the biggest highlight of the weekend was Kelsey Sweatt's no-hitter against Hillsdale on Saturday. Sweatt was dominant in her start, striking out eight, walking just two, and improving to 2-1 on the year. It was UWF's first no-hitter since Sweatt combined with Grace Gilbert and Megan Warhurst to no-hit Christian Brothers last year, on March 5. Sweatt struck out the final five batters she faced in her 28th career win as an Argonaut.
 
SCOUTING WEST ALABAMA
West Alabama has gotten off to a 4-2 start, which includes a pair of wins over GSC opponent Union and a win over No. 5 Young Harris. As it often is, the UWA offense has looked strong, batting .315 as a team with solid power at the plate and more walks than strikeouts. The pitching, so far, has thrown to a 5.05 team ERA, which ranks eighth in the Gulf South Conference.
 
Presley Witt, Mary Grace Sheffield, and Kacy Noland have started off hot at the plate. Witt is batting .455 (5-for-11) with four walks, Sheffield is batting .429 with four stolen bases, and Noland is second on the team with a .538 on-base percentage and is hitting .389.
 
UWA has used seven pitchers across its 43.0 innings of work this year, with Kamree Lay leading the team with 14.1 innings pitched. Despite her 5.39 ERA, Lay spun an outstanding game against Young Harris last Friday, throwing five innings and allowing three runs -- only one of which was earned.
 
UWF holds a 68-19 all-time record against UWA and is 16-3 in their last 19 matchups in Pensacola.
 
IN THE GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE
With a 32-9 conference record since 2019, West Florida holds the best winning percentage (.780) in league play among all Gulf South Conference teams. The team's 32 conference wins -- as well as their 74 total wins -- over the past two seasons are the most in the GSC.
 
Even in the shortened 2020 season, West Florida was dominant in conference play. The Argonauts averaged more than 5 runs per game and hit .296 as a team, while holding GSC opponents to a paltry .169 batting average and just over 2 runs per contest. Teala Howard, Grace Gilbert, and Kara Wilson were outstanding against the GSC last year -- Howard hit .475 and struck out just once in 40 at-bats, Wilson hit .350, and Gilbert hit .359 while spinning a 1.50 ERA over 28.0 innings. Additionally, Kelsey Sweatt went 4-1 with a 1.43 ERA, with 41 strikeouts in 34.1 innings.
 
ARGOS AT HOME
Put simply, UWF likes playing at home. The Argonauts are 74-15 (.831 winning percentage) at the UWF Softball Complex since 2017.
 
Kelsey Sweatt and Grace Gilbert have been outstanding at the UWF Softball Complex, affectionately known as The Fork. Sweatt has a 1.61 ERA over 121.2 innings pitched, and Gilbert has spun a 1.95 ERA in 140 innings at home, with a career 22-3 record.
 
Gilbert is also hitting .375 at the plate, second behind only Teala Howard among active Argonauts. Howard is hitting .517 at the dish in her two-plus years at home, and Mika Garcia and Courtney McLellan have also hit well above .300 in Pensacola. Garcia is slashing .333/.391/.541 at home in her four years, and McLellan has hit .346 while slugging .523.