LIVINGSTON, Ala. — The University of West Florida (32-9, 17-7 GSC) faced a mixed doubleheader against the University of West Alabama (28-10-1, 17-7 GSC) on Saturday at University Field, suffering a tough loss in the first game with a final score of 8-0, but bouncing back to secure a decisive 13-5 victory in the second game.
In the first game, West Florida managed just two hits, while West Alabama capitalized with three home runs. The Argonauts' offense was unable to generate any runs in the first inning, as
Miranda Harmon fouled out and
Angelia Discenza walked, leaving one runner on base. West Alabama also failed to score initially, despite getting two hits and leaving three runners on base. The score remained 0-0 after the first inning.
The second inning saw West Alabama take the lead with a solo home run by Kayla Morris. West Florida was unable to respond, keeping the score at 1-0. In the third inning, West Alabama extended its lead with a solo home run by Ann Marie Stanbridge, followed by a double from ShaKeria Washington that allowed another run to score, increasing their advantage to 3-0. West Florida had two runners on base but did not capitalize.
West Alabama continued scoring in the fourth inning, capitalizing on an error and a couple of singles, with Haley Shannon's single driving in two unearned runs. Jessica Rose later stole home, bringing the score to 6-0. In the fifth inning, a two-run home run by ShaKeria Washington sealed West Alabama's victory at 8-0. West Florida was unable to score throughout the game.
Brianna Adams pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits, including one home run, and demonstrated control with 16 strikes out of 23 pitches.
Hannah Harper pitched three innings, allowing eight hits and recording one strikeout while giving up four earned runs.
Abigail Pippen and
Meg Fountain each contributed one hit to West Florida's offense, while Harmon stole a base.
The second game saw a turnaround for West Florida, who began with West Alabama taking an early lead when Ann Marie Stanbridge homered to left center, making the score 1-0 in favor of the home team by the end of the third inning. West Florida tied the game in the fourth with
Nicole Mergen's solo home run, but West Alabama responded with two runs, including a homer by La'Taviona Parke.
In a remarkable fifth inning, West Florida erupted for seven runs.
Meg Fountain and
Miranda Harmon each doubled, while Mergen hit another home run driving in two runs. Additional RBIs from
Emma Brice and
Bella Holliday extended the lead to 8-3, despite a two-run response from the Tigers, leaving the score at 8-5 at the end of the fifth.
West Florida added three more runs in the sixth inning, with Harmon tripling and
Lulu Luedtke singling her home, followed by an RBI single from Mergen, pushing the score to 11-5. The Argonauts closed the game in the seventh with two unearned runs, resulting in a final score of 13-5.
Haley Guffey delivered a complete game performance, pitching 7 innings while allowing 5 earned runs on 8 hits, striking out 5 batters and throwing a total of 120 pitches.
Nicole Mergen powered the Argonauts with two home runs, driving in four runs and scoring twice. Harmon contributed two hits, including a double and a triple, and Holliday added three RBIs to the scoring.
West Florida now holds a record of 32-9 and is tied for second in the GSC standings. Looking ahead, West Florida will face Mississippi College on Friday, April 17, at 3 p.m. CT in Clinton, Mississippi.
