March 16, 2008
PENSACOLA, Fla. - West Florida needed eight innings to pull off a 1-0 win against GSC opponent University of North Alabama, improving to 21-9 on the season and 3-2 in the GSC. The pitcher's dual lasted for two hours, as UWF's Emily Burge and UNA's Megan Niesel battled for the win. Burge struck out seven batters and held UNA to just five hits in eight innings to earn the win and improve to 6-2. West Florida clinched the win with just three hits on the day, forcing two UNA errors.
Both teams were scoreless until the bottom of the eighth, but there were several threats from both sides. Melissa Chastang and Heather Bell both had singles on the day, and Kristee Wheeler picked up a single on a beautifully executed bunt in the seventh inning. The winning run came in the eighth by Chastang who was on with a single. Pinch hitter Kat Sheppard laid down a bunt, reaching on a throwing at first that advanced Chastang to third. With the winning run just 60 feet away, senior Whitney Gay took the chance to lead her team with a squeeze bunt that scored Chastang.
Defensively for the Argos, Caurie Miller led with five putouts. Third basemen Nicky VanCamp and first basemen Julie Carroll turned a double play in the seventh inning on a line out to VanCamp. Taren Walton also robbed UNA of a single with a head first diving catch in right field. The loss dropped North Alabama to 9-11 on the season, and 0-3 in the conference.
GSC conference play continued immediately following the first game with another matchup between West Florida and North Alabama on Sunday afternoon. The Argos play at home later this week against Drury and Pittsburg State, with games on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at the UWF Softball Complex.
