LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Quiet bats and an error-plagued night spoiled the Gulf South Conference opener for West Florida Softball (9-5, 0-1) as the Argonauts fell to the No. 13 West Alabama Tigers 1-7. 
 
Despite only earning four hits, West Alabama (10-4, 1-0) scored six of their seven runs unearned due to UWF errors in almost every inning. Five different Argo fielders were responsible for an error which ultimately added up to a lopsided final. 
 
The Argo's normally explosive bats were kept in check all night, as UWA's Madison Wright pitched a full game and allowed only one earned run with four strikeouts and no walks. Similarly, Hannah Harper allowed only one earned run and threw four strikeouts with one walk, but the sophomore pitcher did not get the infield or outfield support needed to keep UWF in the game. 
 
Madelyn Vasquez improved her hit streak to nine games when she added one of the Argos' three base hits of the game in the fourth inning. Gianna Guerriero and Jessie Baughan added the other two, with Baughan adding another double to UWF's GSC leading total. 
 
UWF 1, UWA 7
 
The Argos went down in order to start the game and would get into trouble in the bottom of the first when UWA loaded the bases. Back-to-back errors advanced runners into scoring position and scored two others unearned. A fielder's choice scored the final run of the first inning, leaving the frame 0-3 in favor of the Tigers. 
 
Both teams went three up- three down in the second, but the Argos were able to respond off Baughan's double in the third inning. Baughan was brough in off an RBI ground out from Chelsea Dumas making the score 1-3. 
 
From the third through the fifth inning, West Alabama added one run per inning or advanced runners on an error by UWF fielders. The score advanced to a 1-6 West Alabama lead by the sixth, when the Tigers added their only earned run off a Grace Hunter RBI single. 
 
In the seventh, UWF's Hannah Harper reached on a UWA error, but she was stranded after two fly outs sealing the 1-7 loss. 
 
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UWF is back at the UWA Softball Complex tomorrow to cap off the series. Game one of the doubleheader starts at 1:00 p.m. CT. 
 
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