Feb. 6, 2006

PENSACOLA, Fla. - West Florida scored a combined 19 runs on 19 hits in two games as the Argonauts completed a four-game sweep of Stillman College Sunday at Pelican Park at UWF. West Florida won the first game, 11-7, and followed with an 8-3 triumph in the nightcap. The Argonauts improve to 5-0, while Stillman falls to 0-4.

Even though both teams combined to score 18 runs in game one, the first game was marred by sloppy play on both sides. The Argonauts and Tigers combined for eight errors, 18 walks, and three hit batters. Both teams started their offenses early, combining for six first inning runs. In the top of the first, Sanduan Dubose hit his second home run of the series, a line drive that just cleared the wall down the left field line, to give Stillman a 2-0 lead. But West Florida immediately answered in the bottom of the first. West Florida scored four runs on only two hits. Clay Wallace hit into a fielders choice to drive in a run, and three Argonauts walked with the bases loaded.

Wallace added to the Argonaut lead by hitting a home run to leadoff the third inning. It was his first career West Florida home run. The Argonauts added another single run in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly RBI by Jason Kohl to increase the Argonaut lead to 6-2.

The Stillman defense helped add more padding to West Florida's lead in sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth inning, two runs scored on an error by Stillman third baseman Thomas Walker. An error by catcher C.J. Richerzhagen allowed another Argonaut run to score in the seventh inning to give West Florida a 9-2 lead.

But Stillman roared back into the game with a five-run eighth inning. Daniel Carter, pitching in relief of starter Kyle Ramsey, gave up the first Tiger run on an RBI ground out by DeByron Byner. After Walker walked with the bases loaded to force home a run, David Holcombe singled home two runs. Brian McCall relieved Carter and uncorked a wild pitch, allowing the fifth Tiger run of the inning, and cutting the Argonaut lead to 9-7.

West Florida picked up two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning off of Stillman reliever Josh Godfrey. Josh Windham collected an RBI single, while Kohl delivered his second sacrifice fly RBI to increase the West Florida lead to 11-7.

Ramsey (1-0), the reigning Gulf South Conference East Division Freshman of the Year, earned the victory. He allowed two runs and struck out six in seven innings of work. Fred Fosson worked the ninth for his second save of the season. Andrew Brown suffered the loss after allowing six runs on six hits. He also walked seven. Peter Antoske led the Argonauts with three hits and two runs scored.

West Florida continued their offensive assault early in the second game. In the bottom of the first, Bo Williams drove in the first run on an RBI single. Windham later followed with a two-out, two-run single to centerfield. The Argonauts increased to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a bases loaded walk to Jacob Whisenhunt.

Stillman cut the lead in half in the top of the third. Walker and Dubose collected RBI singles off of Argonaut starter Jay Motley. The Argonauts answered in the bottom half of the third. Josh Loosier was involved in a pick-off attempt, but before he was tagged, Logan Whitley was able to score from third.

In the top of the fourth, Alton Delarge cut the West Florida lead to 5-3 with an RBI single. But an RBI single by Whisenhunt, and a sacrifice fly RBI by Windham in the bottom of the fourth put West Florida on top 7-3. West Florida added their final run when Loosier scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth.

Todd Androsko (1-0) earned the victory in relief. Androsko tossed two innings of scoreless relief, while striking out two. Motley earned a no decision after allowing three runs in three innings, while striking out three. Michael Slezak (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing five runs on six hits in three innings pitched. Windham led West Florida with three RBI, while Whisenhunt added two RBI.

West Florida will be back in action next weekend in Cleveland, Miss. against GSC West foe and third ranked Delta State. The three-game series will begin on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 12 pm.