April 19, 2008
PENSACOLA, Fla. - West Florida came out swinging in the first game of a doubleheader against GSC East opponent West Georgia. The Argos racked up 12 hits in the 7-3 win over the Lady Wolves. Jillian LaFrance earned the start and the win, improving her record to 15-7 on the season, striking out eight batters and giving up six hits. The Argos improved to 36-18 on the season and 16-7 in GSC play. Whitney Gay led at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two singles and a double. Shortstop Caurie Miller also had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two walks and two big RBI singles.
UWF took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, after Heather Bell led off with a strikeout but reached first on the dropped third strike. A sacrifice bunt from Whitney Gay advanced Bell and Taren Walton reached on a walk. Nicky VanCamp flew out to centerfield to advance Bell to third, and designated player Jillian LaFrance picked up an RBI on a single over the UWG shortstop's head.
West Georgia put a runner in scoring position in the top of the third inning to threaten with two outs, but Melissa Chastang made a spectacular diving catch in left field to save West Florida from the tying run. West Florida entered the bottom of the third inning with the bats swinging as Whitney Gay led off the inning with a stand up double down the left line. VanCamp walked, and the force out was made at third on a fielder's choice by LaFrance. With two on and two outs, Caurie Miller hit an RBI single up the middle that scored VanCamp to give West Florida a 2-0 lead.
The Argos continued to crank out hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Bell and Gay had back-to-back singles, followed by rightfielder Walton with a big RBI double to left center to score Bell and put runners on second and third for VanCamp. VanCamp took a walk and with two outs, Caurie Miller picked up another RBI on a single to left field that scored Gay, steadily increasing the West Florida lead. Kristee Wheeler reached on a fielder's choice, and all runners were safe on an error by the third basemen to increase the lead to 5-0.
West Georgia's bats came alive in the top of the fifth inning, as their one and two hole hitters roped back-to-back singles. With two runners on and two outs, Kara Pollock took a ball over the centerfield fence to score three runs before the Argonauts could get out of the inning. However, West Florida refused to let up, adding another run in the bottom of the fifth off of four Argonaut hits. Chastang led off with a stand up double, followed by back-to-back singles from Bell and Gay that would score Chastang. VanCamp would add a hit, but the Argos would leave two stranded to end the inning.
The 6th inning brought another run and another hit from Chastang who picked up the RBI off Franny Bell running for Caurie Miller who was on with a walk. With another chance in the seventh inning, West Georgia produced one hit but could not catch West Florida.
West Florida played the second game of the West Georgia doubleheader immediately following the first. West Florida finishes out regular season play at home on Sunday afternoon versus West Alabama with Senior Day festivities taking place between games.
