OXFORD, Ala. – For the second time in the 2026 Gulf South Conference Championships, the No. 8 seed Trevecca Nazarene University softball team (22-18) eliminated the No. 1 seed and No. 14 nationally ranked University of West Florida (42-12), rolling to a 9-1 victory on Friday afternoon at Choccolocco Park and becoming the the lowest seed to advance to the GSC Championship since 2012.
Trevecca pounded out 13 hits and backed another complete-game effort from Bailey Goad as the Trojans sent West Florida home from the postseason. The win advanced Trevecca to Championship Saturday after entering the tournament as the final seed in the eight-team field.
SERIES HISTORY/NOTES
Trevecca improved to 4-4 all-time against West Florida after defeating the Argonauts twice in the same postseason. The teams first met earlier this season in Nashville, where UWF won 2-of-3 during the regular season series. The Trojans answered by eliminating the Argonauts twice at Choccolocco Park, first with a 6-4 win in the tournament opener and then Friday's 9-1 result. Trevecca won all three matchups against West Florida in 2026 by a combined seven runs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trevecca broke the game open in the second inning with one of its most productive offensive frames of the season.
Annalise Mecklenburg and
Sarah Nicholson opened the inning with singles before
Annabelle Ellis loaded the bases with another hit through the left side.
Brianna Asmondy then lined a two-run single to center field to put the Trojans in front. Moments later,
Kyleigh Burgett added an RBI single up the middle, and
Bailey Goad capped the five-run inning with a two-run single to right field for a 5-0 lead.
Goad controlled the game from there inside the circle, holding the top-seeded Argonauts scoreless through the first four innings while Trevecca continued to pressure offensively.
The Trojans added three more runs in the sixth inning. Asmondy singled to begin the rally before Burgett drew a walk and
Addy Grace Summers delivered her third hit of the afternoon with a single up the middle.
Shay Hollingsworth added a sacrifice fly before Goad drove a two-run triple into center field to extend the advantage to 8-1.
Trevecca added its final run in the seventh inning when Nicholson moved into scoring position and later scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Burgett.
Goad finished the complete-game effort by retiring the final two Argonaut hitters after a leadoff single in the seventh, securing Trevecca's second postseason win over West Florida in three days.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Brianna Asmondy – 3-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB
WP: Bailey Goad (15-8) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 4 SO[Text Wrapping Break] LP: Hannah Harper (12-5) – 1.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 1 SO
UP NEXT ON THE DIAMOND
The Trojans are set to face the winner of the opposite bracket game between West Alabama and Alabama Huntsville. If UWA wins the Friday meeting, they advance to face the Trojans at 12:30 PM with the winner being crowned the 2026 GSC champion and earning the GSC's Automatic Qualifier ticket to the NCAA South Regional. If UAH wins the Friday game, they and UWA will play again at 12:30 PM on Saturday and the winner taking on Trevecca in a single game championship final.
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