OXFORD, Ala. – The University of West Georgia baseball team dropped a 6-0 decision to West Florida on Friday night in the opening round of the Gulf South Conference Tournament at Choccolocco Park.
The No. 7 Wolves struggled offensively against UWF hurler Evan Floyd, a First-Team All-GSC selection, connecting on just three hits in the contest.
The second-seeded Argos, ranked No. 5 in the nation, will face No. 6 Alabama-Huntsville on Saturday at 5 p.m. following its 6-5 upset of No. 3 Shorter in Friday's late game, pitting UWG against the third-seeded Hawks 30 minutes following the conclusion of the 5 p.m. UAH-UWF matchup.
West Georgia (18-22) received a solid start from junior right-hander
Robert Coleman, who allowed a run in the first inning but held the Argos scoreless from there until the fifth.
UWF (30-8) plated a run in the fifth and used a three-run sixth inning to take control of the contest and build a 5-0 lead. Freshman
Brady Simpson came on and tossed 1.2 innings of shutout relief for the Wolves, but they had no answer for Floyd.
The UWF junior right-hander tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing three hits with one walk and 11 strikeouts, firing 110 pitches for the evening.
"He threw the baseball really well. He kept us off-balance. We did barrel some balls, but you've got to tip your hat to him. He came out and competed and threw the ball well," UWG head coach
Jeff Smith said.
Smith also praised his own hurler, as Coleman kept the Wolves in contention by holding the No. 1 offense in the Gulf South Conference to just two runs through five innings.
"He pitched well. We just couldn't get anything going and they kept us off-balance offensively. They scrapped a few across there. When you get three hits, it's a tough day," Smith said.
UWG sophomore shortstop
Brody Wortham had a double, while senior catcher
Lane Griffith and junior first baseman
Joseph Hill had singles to account for the UWG offense.
Smith noted how his ballclub was still in good spirits and looking forward to the opportunity to rebound on Saturday and live to play another day in the double-elimination tournament.
"Our guys are in a great head space right now, as far as competing and playing and doing things right," Smith said. "They're going to be ready to go. They're excited about playing and they don't want this thing to end."
