TUCSON, Ariz. – Day three in Arizona brought one win and one loss for UGF softball. The team started the day with their best offensive game yet, defeating Ashford University 6-5. They then faced their first ranked opponent of the year, losing 6-1 to (25) University of Saint Francis (Ill.).

It was Ashford the started hot in the Lady Argo's first game. After the UGF batters with hitless in the top of the first inning, the team's defense and pitching put in a sloppy performance in the bottom of the first. The Saints scored two unearned runs and an earned run on a UGF error to take an early lead.

Both teams scored one run in the second and then game took at turn for the better for UGF in the top of the third.

The inning started with senior Melissa Roach reaching first on an AU error. Her pinch runner, Kyra Dorvall, was promptly brought home by the team's first homerun of the season. The blast came from the bat of junior catcher Jocelyn Kaufman pulled UGF within one run. The rallied continued with a double from senior Chloe Cross and a single from senior Mindy Larson. Cross then scored from third on an illegal pitch and Larson advanced to third.

Next, junior Keeley Van Blaricom walked and subsequently stole second forcing a pickoff attempt that gave Larson time to cross home plate.

With the lead in hand, the Lady Argo's pitching and defense settled down and didn't let up another run until the bottom of the seventh. By then the team had extended their advantage by one run off of a homer from senior Alex Lowry.

The Ashford walk-off threat was ended win Van Blaricom, in relief duty, forced the final Saints battle to ground out to pitching mound.

Kaufman finished the game with two hits, two RBIs, one run, and one homerun in three at-bats.

UGF had a tougher time with the pitching of St. Francis. The Lady Argos earned one hit in the first four innings. By the time they got up to bat in the bottom of the fifth, they were already down 4-0. UGF got on the board with a pinch hit single from junior Hali Gruntowicz that turned into a run after a Cougar fielding error during the next at-bat.

The run ended there, however, and St. Francis added two more to its total in the next inning to finish the game at 6-1.

The 1-1 split brings the Lady Argo record to 5-2 on the year. They will look to improve on that record with two more games in Arizona on Monday, March 7. The team's first game will come against Concordia University at 2 p.m. and the University of Jamestown at 4 p.m.