University of North Florida
BELMONT ABBEY
UNF pitching stays unblemished at Patriot Invitational
3/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
FLORENCE, S.C -
A day after compiling 20 runs in a pair of wins at the Patriot Invitational in Florence, S.C., the University of North Florida softball team relied on pitching and defense to win a pair of games and stay undefeated in the tournament Saturday. UNF (18-4) won its opening game against regional foe Belmont Abbey, 2-0, before defeating Wheeling Jesuit 3-0.
Lady Osprey pitching still has not given up a run in the first two days of tournament play after both Tori Ahern (10-2) and Randalyn Rogers (1-0) threw four-hit shutouts on Saturday.
"We didn't hit as well today as we did yesterday," UNF head coach Sonya Wilmoth said. "But we got great pitching and defense. If we can score a couple of runs, we have the potential to win."
Kelli Rutenbar led the Lady Ospreys at the plate with four hits on the day, while Gwen Williams had a pair of hits, two RBIs and a run in the two games.
Ahern set a career high with 12 strikeouts in the opener, allowing only four hits and one walk to Belmont Abbey. Ahern allowed the first batter she faced - Jessica Inman - to reach third, but didn't allow another runner past first the rest of the contest.
UNF posted both of its runs in the top of the third after Williams led off the frame with a walk. Ashley Parenteau drove her home two batters later with a triple to right before coming home to score on a Christina Evans sacrifice fly.
Parenteau led the Lady Ospreys as the plate with a 2-for-4 performance that included an RBI and a run, while Rutenbar was 2-for-3. Parenteau also collected a hit in the second contest, improving her hitting streak to 12 games. She leads the team with a .410 batting average.
The third inning belong to UNF in game two as well after Rutenbar reached on an infield single to drive home UNF's first run of the game. Williams followed her two batters later with an RBI single.
Williams drove home a run with her second hit of the game to give the Lady Ospreys a 3-0 lead and complete the team's scoring in the top of the seventh.
Evans helped keep the Cardinals scoreless in the bottom of the sixth inning with a diving catch in center field that prevented a run scoring from second.
Rogers took care of the rest, walking only two Cardinal batters and striking out six. She has not allowed an earned run in three appearances this season.
UNF will close out play in the Patriot Invitational with a pair of games Sunday. North Florida begins the day with regional foe Presbyterian at noon before taking on Valdosta State at 2 p.m. The Lady Ospreys swept VSU in a doubleheader earlier this week in Valdosta.
