March 26, 2008
PENSACOLA, Fla. - In a matchup of one of the top teams in the West Division of the GSC vs. one of the best teams in the East Division, it was a classic game of clutch two out hits and great pitching. In the end; however, it was three Arkansas Tech errors, with two of them on one play that allowed the Argos to take home a 7-5 win in 10 innings. Jillian LaFrance pitched all 10 innings, and Nicky VanCamp drove in three runs for the Argos, now 25-13 on the season.
The game started as a contest between GSC pitcher of the week award winners. Jillian LaFrance, with two weekly awards was pitted against Tech pitcher Casey Hammons, who has won three weekly pitcher awards this season. Then, with the Golden Suns leading the Argos 3-0 in the sixth inning, and Hammons working on a no-hitter, the Argos came thru with three hits, and a big show down between Hammons and the Argos two-time offensive player of the week, Nicky VanCamp. The slugging third baseman for UWF, came thru with a two run single to close the score to 3-2. Then LaFrance drove in VanCamp with a double to tie the score.
Arkansas Tech would bring in Dana Aldrich to pitch in relief. Aldrich also has received a pitcher of the week award this season. In fact, the Golden Suns and Argos have combined for eight pitcher of the week awards this season, which completely dominates the conference pitching awards. Aside from LaFrance, Emily Burge and Taren Walton have also received pitcher of the week awards for UWF. Aldrich and LaFrance would take their teams to extra innings to decide the winner. In extra innings, each half inning begins with a runner at second base, which enhances the scoring.
With the score tied at three apiece, UWF started the 8th inning with Heather Bell on second base, and after two outs, Nicky VanCamp came thru with a two single to put UWF ahead 4-3. In the bottom of the 8th inning, the Golden Suns would tie the score on a one out double. With the winning run is scoring position and one out, Jillian LaFrance pitched out of the jam by enducing a fly out and a strike out.
In the ninth inning, the Argos would take a 5-4 lead, when Julie Carroll singled home LaFrance, who had been moved to third base by a Caurie Miller sacrifice bunt. Arkansas Tech would tie the score in the bottom of the ninth in identical fashion, with a sacrifice to move the runner to third, followed by a single to score the run.
In the 10th inning, the Argos Heather Bell bunted to move Melissa Chastang to third base, but an error on the throw allowed Chastang to score. Then with two outs, VanCamp grounded to shortstop, and two errors on the same play allowed VanCamp to reach safely, and then for Bell to score all the way from second base. LaFrance took the two run lead into the bottom of the 10th inning and retired the side in order to complete the 10 inning win. LaFrance improved to 10-6 on the season, while the Argos as a team improved to 25-13 on the season, and Arkansas Tech fell to 24-7. The two teams were scheduled to lock up again in the second game of the Wednesday doubleheader.
A very scary moment occurred in the top of the second inning, when assistant coach Cindie Corey was struck by a line drive while coaching first base. Corey was able to spin sideways and take a glancing blow off her ear, instead of a direct hit, which may have been a hugh blessing. Corey was taken to the emergency room, where an MRI showed no signs of internal damage; however, she needed minor surgery to repair her ear. The Argos rally for victory was for Coach Corey.
