MONTEVALLO, Ala. — The outcome didn't look too promising for Montevallo until Alexis Cortez delivered a game-ending, bases-loaded single through the left side in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Falcons over No. 4 West Florida, 3-2, Friday afternoon.

"(West Florida) is a great team," said Montevallo softball head coach Lindsay Vanover. "West Florida is one of the best in the country and we know, this year, if you're going to be competitive in this conference, you're going to have to play and beat some big-time teams. We just came out today ready to fight and we weren't going to give up until the last out in the last game."

Montevallo (6-4, 1-0) took an early 1-0 lead over West Florida in the bottom of the first after Mychael McMillan (2-3) struck out two of the Argonauts' first three batters in the top half of the inning. The Falcons took the lead on a two-out double by Sierra Easterwood, who plated Haley Barnette after she singled to centerfield with two outs then stole second.

After retiring the next three West Florida batters in order in the top of the second, McMillian, who struck out six batters and scattered four hits on the afternoon, nearly got out of trouble in the third, but a two-out, seeing-eye single that went past a diving Barnette at short drove in two runs to push UWF ahead 2-1.

The Falcons had an opportunity to tie the game in the bottom half of the third after Barnette doubled to start the inning, then took third on a wild pitch. However, back-to-back groundouts left her in scoring position.

The following inning, the Falcons worked out of more trouble as West Florida had runners at second and third with only one away, but a flyout to Barnette and grounder to Easterwood kept UWF off the scoreboard. The Argonauts attempted to add insurance runs in the top of the seventh with two runners on base with two outs, but a fielder's choice ended the threat.

Montevallo was down to its last out — still trailing 2-1 — in the bottom of the seventh, when Barnette was intentionally walked to put runners at first and third. Easterwood followed with a walk to load the bases with two outs, before Mariel Bertossi was hit by a pitch to plate Holly LaForce and tie the game. Alexis Cortez, who had been pinch hit for in her previous at bat, delivered the game-ending hit during the following at bat with a single through the left side to score Barnette.

"You win and lose on the back of your best," Vanover said. "And that's what we did. We decided to leave Mychael in and she was phenomenal with a complete game. With our hitters, we just wanted everyone to do their part."

Montevallo will look to take the series against West Florida when the two teams square off in a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 15 with the first game scheduled for 12 p.m. CT.