Argos Top No. 1 UAH, 4-3 in Extra Innings; Fall 2-0 in Second Game
Melissa ChastangUWF splits in conference action on Friday
PENSACOLA, Fla. – An 11-inning thriller resulted in an Argo win over GSC East rival UAH, 4-3, on Good Friday afternoon. The second game, however, ended in the Chargers’ favor, 0-2. West Florida moved to 36-10 on the season, 11-6 in GSC play with the split, while Jillian Lafrance (Calgary, Alberta/Charleston Southern) improved to 21-3. Melissa Chastang (Satsuma, Alabama/Satsuma HS) was 3-for-5 in the first game, while Shannon Miles (Shreveport, La./Bossier Parrish) delivered the game-winning RBI single.
In a pitching duel between Lafrance and Sage Woodham, the first game was tied at one until the 11th inning. Lafrance’s solo homerun came in the second inning to give the Argos a one run lead, but Whitney Schrimsher countered with a longball of her own in the top of the 4th.
Six scoreless frames scattered just four Argo hits, while Alabama-Huntsville left six runners stranded until the top of the 11th. Sam Deep was placed on second for the international tie breaker in the top of the inning, and advanced on a Schrimsher single. One run would score on a sacrifice fly, as the second crossed on a two-out single from Kathryn Whitlock.
Down 3-1, the Argos came to the plate looking to overcome the two –run deficit against UAH reliever, Alex Lewis. Dawnyele Stapleton (Navarre, Fla./Navarre HS) came in to run at second as a pinch runner, and advanced on a leadoff single from Amber Ingram (Pensacola, Fla./Catholic HS). Chastang’s bat drove in both runners on a double to right center to knot the game at 3-3. A wild pitch adavanced Chastang, and Miles earned the winning RBI with a one-out single through the right side.
The second game scattered just eight hits between the two, as Emily Burge (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) fanned 10 batters in the loss. Miller, Trish Pope (Pensacola, Fla./Okaloosa-Walton CC), and Kat Pursell (Cantonment, Fla./Tate HS) collected the Argos’ three hits.
Burge and UAH starter Whitney Hawkins battled in the circle as the first five frames went scoreless. The door opened for the Chargers in the 6th inning as the first two batters reached on a single and a walk. Caitlin Lee followed with a double to give UAH a 2-0 jump that they would never surrender.
The Argos continue conference action tomorrow afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 1pm against North Alabama. The double header will serve as this year’s senior day to honor West Florida’s six senior softball student-athletes.
