UWF Set to Take On UAH For the Sixth Time This Season in South Region Tournament :: Jillian LaFrance will get the start against UAH, with a 1-1 record against the Chargers

Jillian LaFrance will get the start against UAH, with a 1-1 record against the Chargers

May 7, 2008

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. - The West Florida softball team has been selected to play in the NCAA South Regional Tournament at Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida. UWF is reaching the tournament for the first time in two years. "We didn't take it for granted, (going to the regional tournament) all those years in a row, but having those two years off, we definitely appreciate it more," UWF softball coach Tami Cyr said. "It's a tough road, we had to beat a lot of good teams to get here and I'm really proud of the girls."

Receiving the 7th seed bid, UWF is set to take on GSC rival UAH on Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 E.T. The Argos have won two out of five matchups with the Chargers this 2008 season. The last meeting between these two teams came just days ago in the GSC Championship Tournament in which West Florida lost in a 5-0 shutout. "They come at you (hitters) one through nine," Cyr said. "They're tough and their offense is amazing. They've got five or six kids capable of hitting it out of the park."

The Argos however, split with the Chargers in regular season play during both meetings at both playing fields. UWF defeated the then first-ranked UAH 5-4 in Pensacola on March 15, but then dropped the second game 15-2. West Florida again successfully shut down UAH 2-0 on April 6, but lost the second game 6-2. West Florida, however, has been the only team this season to shutout UAH. Pitcher Jillian LaFrance is 1-1 against the Chargers while Taren Walton is 1-2 after suffering the loss in Saturday's game. Senior Whitney Gay has hits in four out of the five games facing UAH, including two doubles and a homerun. Nicky VanCamp also has two homeruns against the GSC East opponent, as well as four hits altogether.

West Florida has yet to face Saint Leo or Albany State, both traveling to the South Region tournament, but split with both Rollins College and Tampa in the early part of the 2008 season. The Argos have also taken three out of four games from 6th-seeded Valdosta State this season. All games will be broadcast live through Stretch Internet, and live stats may be found through the West Florida Athletics page at www.goargos.com.