University of North Florida
USC Upstate
Ahern throws no-hitter
4/3/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 3, 2005
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Freshman Tori Ahern threw a no-hitter against the best hitting team in the Peach Belt Conference and UNF didn't allow a run in either game of a doubleheader sweep of USC Upstate on Sunday at the UNF Softball Complex.
UNF (34-6, 15-3 PBC) won the opener 2-0 before taking the second game 4-0 from the Lady Spartans (33-9, 6-8 PBC).
Ahern allowed four walks and struck out seven, while taking advantage of a couple big plays in the field by senior third baseman Laura Hanstein.
"Her pitching performance was awesome," UNF head coach Sonya Wilmoth said. "I didn't notice until the sixth inning that she hadn't allowed a hit. The defense was good behind her today."
For the second day in a row, UNF took advantage of an opposing pitcher who couldn't work herself out a jam that she created. The Lady Ospreys scored the winning run in a 2-1 victory against Augusta State's Amy Dumas on a bases-loaded walk Saturday, before scoring two runs today on bases-loaded walks by Kasey Heron (11-4).
Kelli Rutenbar and Caitlin Miller drew the free passes with two outs in the sixth inning to give Ahern (20-3) all the run support she needed.
After allowing a pair of walks in the first inning and one in the second, Ahern finally hit her stride, retiring 12 in a row before issuing a free pass to Katie Adams in the sixth. She didn't allow another baserunner from there, retiring the last five Lady Spartans order.
Heron was the tough-luck loser for Upstate, surrendering only two hits and striking out four.
Gwen Williams and Randalyn Rogers collected the UNF hits.
Kelli Pitts continued UNF's dominance of the Upstate lineup in game two, scattering five hits in a complete-game shutout. Pitts (5-0) struck out three and did not allow a walk in the win.
The Lady Ospreys finally got their bats going in the sixth inning, breaking open a scoreless tie with four runs. After mustering only six hits in its three previous games, UNF put together six hits in the sixth alone against Upstate starter Jessica Jolly (13-4).
Hanstein started the rally with a single, then came around to score the eventual game winner when fellow senior Katie Field drove her home with a single to left. Kelli Richards followed with an RBI single that scored Williams, before Christina Evans drove home two to complete the scoring.
"Katie Field came through with a clutch hit for us and [Hanstein] scored the first run," said Wilmoth, commenting on her two seniors who were honored between games of the doubleheader on Sunday.
Ashley Parenteau led UNF at the plate with a 2-for-4 performance and a run. All but one Lady Osprey starter finished the game with a hit.
UNF will complete play in the Peach Belt Conference next Saturday when it travels to Francis Marion for a pair of games.
