MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Auburn University at Montgomery softball dropped its first home game of 2019 on Friday evening, as the No. 10 ranked University of West Florida used a five-run sixth inning to upend the home-standing Warhawks, 5-0, in Gulf South Conference play.
 
NOTES
• AUM falls to 13-2 on the season with a 2-2 mark in league games.
• UWF improves to 14-1 overall and 4-0 in the GSC.
• The game marks the first time this season that the Warhawks did not score first.
• It was also the first time the Orange & Black were held scoreless since March 15, 2018.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• UWF's Grace Gilbert (5-1) pitched a 3-hit shutout of the Warhawks, a team that had outscored opponents 117-12 over their first 14 games.
• AUM's Chanel Newcomer pitched three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit while striking out two.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The game was a pitchers' dual between the teams, with each team recording only a hit in the first.
• After a 3-up-3-down top of the second the Warhawks were able to get runners at second third with only one out, but the Argos defense would record a pair of ground outs to end the threat by the home squad.
• Both teams sent three batters to the plate in the third, both teams would draw walks in the fourth and both teams would get a base-runner in the fifth but nobody got to second base in any inning in this defensive struggle.
• It would be the top of the sixth that decided the contest, as the Argos got a double by Rachel Wright to start of the frame. A bunt single by Teala Howard would advance Wright to third and then Howard would steal second. Rhiannon Sassman then singled to right-center to break the scoreless tie and put the visitors up 2-0. Sassman was then caught stealing second on a laser-throw from AUM catcher Abby Krueger. After a pop up put two outs on the board, Callan Taylor doubled to right-center to push the visitors' lead to 3-0. Courtney McClellan then recorded another double for the Argos to push the advantage to 4-0. Gilbert then doubled herself to second to score McClellan, but was thrown out at third trying to advance.
• Shortstop Olivia Aycock singled to left to start the bottom of the sixth for AUM, but the home team could not get her home after she stole second.
• AUM got runners at first and second on an infield single and a walk in the bottom of the seventh, but was unable to plate any runs to be shutout for the first time in almost a calendar year.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
• AUM was held scoreless on three hits with one error.  
• UWF scored five runs on eight hits with one error.
• Sophomore Michaelyn Foster was credited with the loss, allowing four runs on five hits in 2.2 innings.
• The Argos scored five runs on seven hits in the top of the sixth.
 
For the latest on AUM athletics, find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.