March 23, 2008
LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The Argonauts continued GSC play Saturday afternoon in Livingston, Alabama and were able to clinch an 8-6 victory over West Alabama. Starting pitcher Jillian LaFrance earned the win, improving to 9-4 with five strikeouts on the day. Third basemen Nicky VanCamp led the Argos at the plate, going three-for-five on the game. Julie Carroll was right behind her with two hits out of three at bats. The Argos combined for 13 hits in the win, with just one defensive error.
West Alabama was first to score a run in the second inning off an RBI single by right fielder Mary Wright. The Argos, however, quickly came back to take the lead in the top of the third inning. Stephany Aguiliar led off with a walk and advanced to third on a sacrifice by Melissa Chastang. Heather Bell reached on a fielder's choice that scored Aguiliar and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Whitney Gay also reached on a fielder's choice that advanced Bell to third. Pinch runner Amie McMillion stole second to put two runners in scoring position for Caurie Miller who answered the call with an RBI single to score Bell. McMillion was thrown out at third and Miller reached second on the throw. With Franny Bell pinch running for Miller, VanCamp reached on an error by the third basemen that allowed F. Bell to reach third. LaFrance took the opportunity to pick up an RBI off a single that scored F. Bell before the inning ended.
With a 3-1 lead, West Florida continued producing runs in the fourth inning. Julie Carroll led off with a single, but was thrown out at second on Aguiliar's fielder's choice. Aguiliar advanced on a Chastang groundout, and then scored on a single from Heather Bell. Bell advanced when Gay reached on an error and again on a walk drawn by Miller that loaded the bases. VanCamp singled to left field to add another RBI to her books on Bell's score.
West Alabama added three runs to the board in the fifth inning, one being a solo homerun from Laura Bagwell. West Florida's VanCamp answered with a two run homerun, her seventh of the year, over the centerfield fence that scored Gay who was on with a single. Then in the seventh, the Argos added one more run after Chastang led off the inning with a single. Heather Bell advanced Chastang with a sacrifice bunt, and Gay stepped up with an RBI double to make the score 8-4. West Alabama threatened in the seventh, adding two runs off a homerun from Mary Wright but the Argos relief pitcher Emily Burge held on to clinch the save.
The Argos continued GSC play against West Alabama immediately following the first game of the doubleheader.
