GULF SHORES, Ala. – Simon Fraser University finished 2-3 at the Gulf Coast Classic after losing 7-6 to West Florida and 8-3 to North Alabama on Sunday.

"We are coming out of the tournament 2-3 but we could have won all but our last game today," said Clan head coach Mike Renney. "Our seniors are going to be the hallmark of our success but I have been very pleased with the performances of some of our younger players."

Simon Fraser used six freshmen or sophomores together at time during the tournament as Renney has juggled his lineup in an attempt to find the winning formula.

"We are still trying to establish roles and identify the hierarchy of roles," he said.

SFU senior catcher/DP Nicole Ratel has wielded the hot bat to start the season going 7-of-14 at the plate with three doubles and four RBI. Sophomore lead-off hitter Taylor Gills is batting .476 with 10 hits in 21 plate appearances with three doubles and three RBI.

UWF 7 Simon Fraser 6 (10 innings)

After falling behind 3-1 after four innings against West Florida, SFU struck for two runs in the top of the sixth to even the score with three hits in the inning. West Florida was held scoreless in the seventh.

With tiebreaker rules in effect, each team began every extra inning with a runner on second. SFU scored in the eighth after sacrificing its 3 hitter, and right fielder Rachel Procter struck a single into right field.

Kayla Rosario did the damage for UWF in the eighth, hitting a single toward the shortstop that scored a run. The ninth inning showed a similar story, as SFU scored after laying down a sacrifice bunt and UWF followed with an RBI single to tie things at five.

After Alex Baylak's RBI scored Victoria Saunders in the 10th, Chelsy Krantz  tied the score on a single into left-center field. Caitlin Steel followed, grounding into a fielder's choice and stealing second on the first pitch to Rachel Wright. Wright ended the game with a sharp single up the middle that Steel scored on.

Simon Fraser had eight hits in 10 innings. Proctor had two hits and two RBI in four at-bats while Taylor Gillis and Nicole Ratel also had two hits. Ratel and Baylak had doubles.

Senior Jessica Goulet went nine innings giving up nine hits and six runs before giving way to Alia Stachoski. She gave up two hits in the final inning and was charged with the loss, falling to 1-1 on the season.

"Jessica was very sound today and any time she had a little trouble she managed to get herself out of it," said Renney.

North Alabama 8 SFU  3

"We didn't respond well in Game 2 after we got behind," said Renney. "We got down a couple of runs and our pitching caught up to us -- we were a little tired."

UNA broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. A four-run fifth inning gave North Alabama a 6-0 lead. The Lions briefly extended their lead to 8-0 with a two-run double in the top of the sixth but Simon Fraser avoided the mercy-rule defeat with a solo homerun by first base Alex Baylak in the bottom of the frame.

SFU loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth, but could only add two runs.

Three Clan pitchers combined to give up 10 hits and eight run with Tori Belton getting tagged with the loss. She is now 1-1.

SFU plays its first 18 games on the road, including two tournaments in Alabama and one in Oregon, before playing its first home game on February 28, a double header against rival Western Washington. Simon Fraser's GNAC schedule begins with home-and-home doubleheaders against Western Washington on Feb. 27 & 28.

Follow the SFU Clan softball team for behind the scenes pictures and more all season long on their official Instagram account.

--@SFUClan--