Contact:
Cara Lynn Rasmussen
Phone: (850) 474-2428
March 25, 2005
No. 19 UWF Wins Doubleheader in GSC Action at UNA
FLORENCE, ALA. - The UWF baseball squad, ranked No. 19 in the NCAA Division II Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Top 25, swept North Alabama in games of 9-7 and 5-4 continuing Gulf South Conference (GSC) play. West Florida improves to 24-14 overall, 5-0 in the conference, and North Alabama is now 17-14, 1-4 in the GSC.
UWF centerfielder Brian Rodgers fueled the Argonauts' offense in game one with two home runs and a double, 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs and three RBI. Jacob Whisenhunt knocked two doubles, 3-for-4 at the plate with a run and an RBI. Peter Antoske went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Although UNA jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first, West Florida racked up a 9-2 lead after seven. The Lions' offense roared in the bottom of the eighth with five runs, but UWF pitching shut down further comeback.
Todd Androsko pitched 7.1 innings after starting for UWF. He allowed seven runs on 11 hits, striking out six Lions. Fred Fosson came in for relief in the bottom of the eighth inning and gave up just one hit and no runs. Androsko's record is now 5-2, and Fossen earned his eighth save of the year.
In the second seven-inning game, North Alabama pitching limited UWF to seven hits while their offense brought on 12, but UWF stuck it out for an extra-inning win in the top of the ninth. After UNA tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth with a runner on third, UNA's John Byrd laid down a bunt and Antoske threw him out at first to avoid a game-winning run. Two players from North Alabama were thrown out of the game for arguing the close play.
Richie Brantley walked and Alan Conley came in to pinch run to lead off the ninth. Conley moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Joshua Mayfield, then advanced to third on a ground-out. An error by UNA's second baseman Mike Klug scored the game-winning run. Brian McCall was on the mound for UWF in the bottom of the inning to save the game, facing three batters with just one hit and the Argonauts' defense had a double play.
Fosson got the win for UWF and is now 3-0 after 1.2 innings in the second game. McCall had his first season save.
West Florida faces North Alabama for the third and final game of the series tomorrow beginning at 1:00 p.m. The nine inning game will be broadcasted live on the worldwide web by Jake Fish and Chris Woodley. Visit Argonaut Online at uwf.edu/athletics and click the Stretch logo for details.