PENSACOLA, Fla. – The University of West Florida softball team fell in the series finale against Auburn Montgomery on Sunday afternoon, by a score of 8-1. West Florida, ranked No. 11 nationally, is now 18-7 on the year and stands in third place in the Gulf South Conference with a 12-3 record in the league.
 
Teala Howard had three hits in the game and led UWF over the weekend series with four base hits, and she and Erin Moon led the team with a .333 average.
 
Auburn Montgomery picked up a run in the first inning after a leadoff triple, but the Argonauts got the run right back in the bottom half. Howard led off the inning with a bunt single, and Chelsea Dumas reached after a wild throw on her sacrifice bunt – Howard was able to score and even the game.
 
UWF struggled to get much offense going against AUM starter Alanna Goble. After the Warhawks scored three runs in the second and one more in the third to stretch their lead to 5-1, the Argonauts put together a solid threat in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Madelyn Vasquez lifted a single to left field and Jessica Ford reached on a fielder's choice, as AUM tried to make a play at second to retire Vasquez, but the throw was too late. Angela Agurkis drew a walk two batters later to load the bases, but AUM was able to escape the inning unharmed with a flyout and a strikeout.
 
AUM scored another run in the fifth and two more in the seventh to stretch the lead to the final 8-1.
 
Jeya Prasad was charged with the loss after going 1.1 innings in her start, with two earned runs and four total runs allowed. Kelsey Sweatt threw 5.2 innings of solid relief, but she was ultimately charged with three earned runs in her outing.
 
Teala Howard's multi-hit day was her 13th of the season and her fifth game with three hits this year, and Madelyn Vasquez stretched her on-base streak to 24 games with her single in the fourth inning.
 
UWF will head to Columbus, Georgia, for a doubleheader against Columbus State on Wednesday, before a weekend series at Montevallo on Saturday and Sunday.
 
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