PENSACOLA, Fla. – UWF Softball is set to begin its 39^th season as a program when it heads to Gulf Shores Alabama for the Gulf Shores Invitational this weekend.
 
The Argos open the weekend with a highly anticipated match-up as they prepare to face the 2023 DII National champions and NFCA consensus preseason No. 1 North Georgia in their first game on Friday Feb. 2 at 12:30 p.m. CT.
 
UWF has four other opponents on the slate for the weekend, including West Georgia on Friday at 3:00 p.m., Lubbock Christian and No. 5 Nova Southeastern on Saturday at 12:30 and 3:00 p.m., and No. 18 Saint Leo on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. (all times central). 
 
Head Coach Ashliegh McLean enters her sixth season with West Florida Softball, compiling a 156-74 record in that time (.688). The 2019 GSC Coach of the Year has a 68-34 record against non-conference opponents (.666) with several more coming up this weekend. Assistant Coach Taylor Baynes also returns for his second season with the Argos after a stint with Samford Softball in 2022.
 
UWF opens the season with a roster that returns eleven players from last year's squad. Most notably, 2023 First Team All-GSC and All-GSC Preseason Selections Erin Moon and Hannah Harper return to the field in 2024. Veteran contributors back in the batting lineup for the Argos include Emma Brice, Chelsea Dumas, Jessica Ford, Bella Holliday, and Madelyn Vasquez.
 
On the mound, the Argonauts return three of the four members of their 2023 pitching rotation. Montana Young returns for her senior season after leading the Argos in starts (24) and wins (14) in 2023. Harper and late-season rotation addition Alayna Lowery also return to the mound in 2024. Additionally, the Argos added Birmingham Southern College pitcher Hailee Bryan, who finished her BSC career with a 1.94 ERA and 309 strikeouts with 45 wins. 
 
The Argonauts loaded up in the transfer portal, adding six new faces to the team. Three of the new Argos were named to the GSC Newcomers Watchlist, those being Gianna Guerriero, Maddie Treutlein, and Jessie Baughan . Guerriero transfers in from the College of Central Florida, where she was a two-time First Team All-American at the NJCAA level. Baughan player her first two seasons at North Alabama, and Treutlein joins UWF by way of Henderson State. Other transfers in for UWF include Bryan, College of Central Florida transfer Cameron Wolfenden, and University of Colorado, Colorado Springs transfer Brianna Jennings. 
 
North Georgia
 
The Nighthawks are set to begin the 2024 season after defeating Grand Valley State 3-0 in the NCAA DII championship last May. UWF is 0-7 all-time against the Nighthawks, most recently defeating them 4-1 at the 2022 Gulf Shores Invitational. 
 
North Georgia competes in the Peach Belt Conference, where they compiled a 64-7 (24-3) record in 2023. They were the unanimous No. 1 in the NFCA Preseason Top 25 and the favorite to win the PBC for the 9^th straight year. 
 
The Nighthawks return five preseason All-Conference selections, including outfielders Sydney Blair, Jolie Lester, Mariah Wicker, and utility player Sophie Mooney. Also returning is ace pitcher Kristen Davis who earned a 20-1 record with 137 strikeouts during the 2023 campaign. 
 
West Georgia
 
West Florida's second opponent of the season will be a familiar one, as they face in-conference foe West Georgia in an out-of-conference matchup. UWF is 43-17 all time against the Wolves, going 2-1 against them last season. 
 
West Georgia went 13-40 (8-22) in 2023. They were picked 10^th out of 13 teams in the GSC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Returning for the Wolves is junior Madison Vandergriff, who led UWG with a .345 avg and six home runs last season. 
 
West Georgia adds many new faces including three named to the GSC newcomer's Watchlist. Blair Bizette, Megan Waites, and Destry Lambert represent UWG on the list, with Bizette being an option for UWG in the circle and behind the plate at catcher. 
 
UWG begins its final season as a DII program, as it makes the jump to DI in 2025. 
 
Lubbock Christian
 
UWF opens the second day of the GSI with a game against Lubbock Christian. The Argos are 2-0 all-time against the Lady Chaps, defeating them in a doubleheader to open the 2021 season. 
 
LCU competes in the Lone Star Conference, where they were picked fourth in their preseason poll. They went 40-17 (29-13) in 2023 and received some votes in the NFCA Preseason Poll. 
 
Skyler Herrera and Maxine Valdez headline returning stars for LCU, as they were named LSC Player to Watch and Pitcher to Watch. They return nine of their eleven batters with at least 50 at bats and three All-Region Selections in Hope Banales, Tiarra Delrosario and Riley Flores. 
 
Nova Southeastern
 
Capping off Saturday's opponents for UWF is No. 5 Nova Southeastern. UWF holds a 14-7 advantage all-time against the Sharks; however, the most recent contest went in favor of NSU when they defeated the Argos 8-1 in February of 2020. 
 
NSU had a successful 2023 season that featured a trip to the DII Softball Championship after a Super Regional upset of No. 1 Tampa. Overall, the Sharks went 43-16 (22-8) in their 2023 season and were picked to finish second in the SSC Preseason poll. 
 
Nova Southeastern returns four All-SSC selections in Alexis Smith, Ryleigh Langwell, Alyssa Drogemuller, and Kerstyn Shaw. 
 
Saint Leo 
 
The final game of West Florida's trip to Gulf Shores will feature a matchup against No. 18 Saint Leo University. UWF is 9-9 all-time against the Lions, but haven't played against them since the Argos won a 4-3 contest in Melbourne, FL back in the beginning of the 2020 season. 
 
Saint Leo is projected to finish third in the 2024 Sunshine State Conference Preseason Poll after a successful 43-12 (23-7) campaign. The Lions made a regional appearance where they were eventually knocked out by GSC member Auburn Montgomery. 
 
They return SSC Freshman of the Year Briana Neal and SSC Pitcher of the Year Kayla Betts. The duo helped Saint Leo lead the SSC in team batting average (.314) and ERA (1.10). 
 
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The Argonauts finished last season with a 22-23 record. They were picked to finish 6^th out of 13 teams in the GSC preseason coaches' poll. West Florida returns home next weekend for their home opener series against Florida Southern from February 10-11. 
 
Keep up on West Florida Softball by following @UWFSoftball on X, Instagram, and Facebook.