MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of West Florida softball team swept a doubleheader at Montevallo on Saturday afternoon with a pair of close, late wins. The victories give UWF a 21-8 record on the year and the Argonauts improved to 16-3 in Gulf South Conference play, while Montevallo is now 9-6 in GSC action and 19-13 overall.
 
The front half of the doubleheader was an extra-innings contest that saw UWF score four runs in a busy eighth inning. Game 2 was a pitchers' duel that saw UWF come out on top, with a game-winning RBI double from Madelyn Vasquez.
 
Sunday's series finale is scheduled for noon in Montevallo.
 
GAME 1: UWF 7, Montevallo 4 (8 innings)
It was another big inning late in the game for UWF in Game 1 – this time in the 8th.
 
Tied 3-3 through regulation, Jessica Ford hit a solo home run to put UWF ahead, and Kelsey Hodges followed with an RBI single to score Laurynn Boggs. The hit for Hodges would turn out to be the game-winner, and Teala Howard added two more runs with an RBI single herself.  
 
Kelsey Sweatt went the distance for UWF and improved to 9-6 on the year. The senior did not allow a hit until the sixth inning and was able to work around an uncharacteristic nine walks in the victory. In all, Sweatt struck out seven and allowed six hits in eight innings of work, holding the Falcons to 2-for-17 with runners on base.
 
West Florida picked up a quick lead with an RBI single up the middle from Erin Moon in the first inning, scoring Teala Howard.
 
West Florida put runners on base in most innings but wouldn't bring across any more runs until Kayla Mayo's two-run home run in the fifth. It was Mayo's third of the year and second of this week, after she homered against Columbus State on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Mayo's three home runs this season are a new career-high, and her roundtripper scored freshman Ayana Powell, who singled and stole second base earlier in the inning.
 
It wasn't until the sixth inning that Montevallo got on the board, with a solo home run from Hannah Carey. Montevallo threatened more in the inning, eventually putting two runners in scoring position, but Sweatt forced Montevallo second baseman Sydnee Pawlak to pop out to end the inning.
 
Montevallo scored two more runs in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extras, with a solo home run from Sierra Easterwood and a sacrifice fly.
 
Sweatt did get some help from a strong Argonauts defense, with double plays in back-to-back innings. In the second, Sweatt struck out Georgia Hughes and Moon caught Alisha Lanyon stealing to end the frame.
 
Montevallo's Kinley Adams hit a line drive to Mayo at second in the third inning, and Mayo made the throw back to first before Pawlak could get back in time for UWF's second double play of the day.
 
GAME 2: UWF 3, Montevallo 2
Starting pitcher Montana Young was outstanding in her start on Saturday evening. The sophomore from Slidell, Louisiana, improved to 7-0 with her complete game win, allowing just four hits and a walk over seven innings of work.
 
Again, UWF scored first with an RBI single from Erin Moon in the top of the first inning. She drove in Kayla Mayo, who doubled with one out.
 
Montevallo's Sierra Easterwood hit her second home run of the day in the bottom of the first to even the score at 1-1, but Young cruised from there. Young sat down 12 of the next 13 batters she faced, keeping the game tied until the top of the fifth.
 
That was when UWF struck again. Ayana Powell hit her first career home run to break the tie and give UWF the lead. Powell just continued a week-long hot streak with the homer, following a two-hit, two-RBI game against Columbus State on Wednesday.
 
Montevallo did not go away easily though, as designated player Carlee Mullinax hit a game-tying solo home run in the sixth to even things up going into the seventh.
 
Mayo came through again for UWF in the seventh, when she drew a two-out walk. That was when Madelyn Vasquez drove a double into center field to score Mayo and give West Florida the win.
 
The double for Vasquez also stretched her on-base streak to 28 games.