April 5, 2008

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The West Florida softball team is 26-15 on the year, and 6-4 in conference play, as they head on the road for two games with North Alabama on Saturday, and two games vs. number 1 ranked Alabama Huntsville on Sunday. The games will be broadcast on Stretch Internet.

The Stretch Internet link is available for anyone to listen to on your computer. Go to the UWF Athletics Home Page, and look for the stretch internet link along the right side. Click on the link and look for instructions to listen to the Argos this weekend.

West Florida kicks off the weekend at North Alabama at 5:00 pm Saturday night. The Argos split two games with the Lions in Pensacola last month, winning 1-0, while losing the second game 7-0. North Alabama is 18-13 overall and tied for third place in the GSC with UWF at 6-4.

On Sunday, the Argos will be in Huntsville, Alabama for a doubleheader against the top ranked Chargers, with the games beginning at noon. UAH is 36-5 on the season, and 7-3 in the conference, which is good for second place currently. The Argos gave the Chargers one of those losses earlier this year in Pensacola, winning 5-4. However, UAH won the second game for a doubleheader split. Meanwhile, 12th ranked Valdosta State leads the GCC with an 8-2 record.

The key conference games this weekend, will help determine which teams make the conference tournament in Southhaven, Mississippi beginning May 2nd. The top four teams from each the west and east divisions will take part.

The Argos are led by the pitching tandem of Jillian LaFrance, Emily Burge, and Taren Walton. LaFrance is among the conference leaders with 11 wins, while Walton is second in the conference in strikeouts per inning. The three pitchers have combined to throw 13 shutouts this season.

Offensively, the Argos Nicky VanCamp is amomg the conference leaders in home runs, runs batted in, hits, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and walks. Teammate Caurie Miller leads the entire conference in walks. vanCamp has twice won the GSC player of the week honors, while each of the three Argos pitchers has earned a pitcher of the week award, with LaFrance earning the honor twice.