ABERDEEN, S.D. – Junior transfer Kylie Gonzales had a great day in her first two games as a Lady Argos, leading UGF to its first 2-0 record to start the season since 2009. The third baseman, hit three doubles and drive in 6 total runs in an 8-6 win against York College and a 6-2 win over Mayville State University.
 
Sophomore pitcher Brie Clifford started the game, and got her first win of the season, but it was a shaky start. Clifford got three of the first four batters out, including her first strikeout of the year, but the third batter of the game knocked the ball over the outfield fence.
 
It didn't take long for UGF's batters to come to Clifford's defense, tying up the score with Gonzales's first double, which drove in senior center fielder Morgan Robinson. A groundout from senior Jackie Thomas two batters later drove in Gonzales to give the Lady Argos a 2-1 lead.
 
A big 2nd inning, separated UGF from York. The inning started with junior second baseman, Gabrielle Canibeyaz reading first on Panther throwing error. Singles from Robinson and senior Paige Bodner then loaded the bases.
 
That brought junior Bailey Henderson to the plate, who took advantage of another throwing error to reach base and bring Canibeyaz across home play. With the bases again loaded, Gonzales came to the plate and knocked another double to left field which cleared the bases and gave UGF a 6-1 lead.
 
Such a sizable lead came in handy when Clifford got into some trouble in the 4th. The same player that homered off the sophomore at the start of the game got a hold of another one, and this time there were two other runners on base. Her home run tied the score at 6-6, but junior transfer Kristina George came in to relieve Clifford and calmed things down and eventually earn a save.
 
Once again, the Lady Argo's bats came to the rescue in the bottom of the inning. It was the same story as UGF's big 2nd inning. Bodner and Robinson again reached based one after the other, with Robinson getting to first on another error. The only difference was that Henderson took care of driving in the runs before Gonzales could get to it. The right fielder hit a double to center field to give UGF the lead once and for all.
 
In the end, Gonzales accounted for over half of UGF's runs, going 2-4 from the plate with 2 doubles, 4 RBI and 1 run. Robinson also served as the perfect leadoff hitter, reaching base and eventually scoring on all three of her at-bats.
 
The second game of the day, against Mayville State University, also had a bit of a rocky start for UGF. With senior pitcher Shelby Abeyta on the mound, the Comets got two hits and scored one run in each of the first two innings.
 
While the first run was on Abeyta, the second one was not. Instead, it was the result of the first two errors of the season for UGF's defense, though they were under pressure with the bases loaded during the second error.
 
That second run was the last one the Lady Argos will allow and those two runs didn't loom as large after the top of the 3rd inning. In what seemed like another rerun, the inning started with Robinson hitting a single to center. She then stole second for UGF's first steal of the year before the Comets smartly walked Gonzales. Senior Hali Gruntowicz then also walked to load the bases.
 
Bodner drove Robinson home from second with a single to left, which brought Thomas to the plate. The first baseman followed the trend of deadly doubles, smacking the ball to center field for a 3 RBI hit that gave UGF the lead.
 
In the top of the 4th, Robinson reached base again and again Gonzales hit a double that drove her and senior Kimberly McAdams home.
 
With a 6-2 lead, UGF Head Coach Joey Egan went to the bullpen. Redshirt-freshman Mikayla Deigan threw the first pitches of her college career, allowing 3 hits and no runs in four innings of work.
 
Robinson finished the day 4-7 from the plate over the two games, reaching base five times and scoring each time. Gonzales finished the day with 6 RBI, with her three doubles.
 
Next for the Lady Argos will be two more games as part of the Presentation College Dome Classic. The day will start against the College of Saint Mary at 7 a.m. MT, followed by (21) Dickinson State at 11 a.m. MT.