PENSACOLA, Fla. – The University of West Florida softball team got more powerful offense and a strong outing in the circle from Kelsey Sweatt on Saturday afternoon, on the way to a decisive 8-3 win over Montevallo. The win gave UWF its sixth consecutive win and the team's second straight sweep over a conference opponent.
 
UWF is now 24-10 and 18-6 in the Gulf South Conference, and the Argonauts will be back in action on Tuesday for a nonconference doubleheader against Columbus State at the UWF Softball Complex, starting at 1 pm.
 
Starting pitcher Kelsey Sweatt impressed on Saturday, going seven strong innings with 10 strikeouts and just five hits allowed. The reigning GSC Pitcher of the Week allowed three runs, only one of which was earned, on the way to picking up her 11th win of the season.

Saturday marked Sweatt's sixth career game and second this year with 10 or more strikeouts -- she had 12 last Saturday against Union. 

West Florida jumped ahead in the first inning with a two-run double from Courtney McLellan, scoring Teala Howard and Kara Wilson. After Sweatt struck out the side in the top of the second, the Argonauts picked up another with a bunt from Howard that scooted past the infield and allowed Angela Agurkis to score from second, stretching the lead to 3-0.
 
UWF would add another two runs in the fifth, first on a dropped pop fly hit by Agurkis that scored pinch-runner Chelsea Dumas. Mika Garcia hit a sharp single to left field that scored Kayla Mayo and gave UWF the 5-0 advantage.
 
The offense kept going in the sixth with a sacrifice fly from Jacquelynne Poling and another 2-run double from McLellan off the right-center field wall, giving her three two-baggers in the game with four RBIs.
 
Sweatt dominated through the first four innings, striking out five and allowing just one hit. Montevallo pieced together two runs in the fifth and another in the seventh, but Sweatt had little trouble finishing off the game.
 
Sweatt was as sharp as ever when under pressure in the game, as Montevallo hit just 2-14 with runners on base.
 
Teala Howard and Courtney McLellan each had three hits in the game, and Garcia added two. McLellan led the team with four RBIs and each of her three hits were doubles.
 
Howard led UWF over the weekend with eight hits and five runs scored, and McLellan and Poling each had seven RBIs. West Florida hit .439 and slugged .646 against Montevallo with 11 extra-base hits.