CLEVELAND, Miss. — West Florida defeated Delta State 9-0 in five innings Saturday at University Field. The Argonauts, ranked No. 7 nationally, improved to 15-3 overall and 4-0 in Gulf South Conference play. The Lady Statesmen fell to 4-13 and 2-4 in conference.
UWF pitcher Haley Guffey allowed just three baserunners over 4.2 innings to earn her 11th win of the season. She struck out five and held Delta State to three hits. Guffey also contributed at the plate with a home run.
West Florida took an early lead in the second inning on a single and an error that scored one run. The Argonauts then broke the game open in the following inning, with Hannah Harper reaching on an error, Nicole Mergen singling, and Baughan hitting a three-run homer to right field. UWF added another run in the same inning and led 4-0 at halftime.
In the fourth inning, West Florida continued to pressure, with Harper doubling and the team scoring four more runs on three hits, including RBI singles from Nevaeh Hayes and A. Pippen. Baughan added her second home run of the game in the fifth, a solo shot to center field.
Delta State’s best scoring opportunities came in the fourth and fifth innings. Mary Teague singled in the fourth, while Carly Dunigan doubled and Hallie Turner added a pinch-hit single in the fifth, putting runners on the corners. The Lady Statesmen finished with three hits and left four runners on base. Grace Pippin started for DSU, allowing five runs in three innings. Ellie Cox and Maeve Lavoy pitched the final two frames, with Lavoy surrendering just one run in her inning of work.
Delta State is scheduled to return to action Wednesday, hosting Henderson State University in a doubleheader at University Field beginning at 2 p.m. CT.
