University of North Florida
Kennesaw State
UNF bounced from regional
5/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 13, 2005
KENNESAW, Ga. - The University of North Florida softball team took an unexpected quick exit from the NCAA South Atlantic Regional on Friday, falling to Carson-Newman 5-4 in Kennesaw, Ga.
The loss ended UNF's season after the Lady Ospreys compiled a 39-12 mark. UNF lost both of its contests in the regional, falling to USC Upstate on Thursday to drop into the loser's bracket.
"If you look at all of the new kids we brought in, nobody expected us to be here," UNF head coach Sonya Wilmoth said. "They stepped it us this year and were able to get to a regional. We have a lot of young faces that got a lot of experience."
Carson-Newman rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn the victory. Whitney Hickman drove home the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning after the Eagles loaded the bases off of Tori Ahern (22-7) with nobody out.
Jessica Sexton came on with the game tied and was one-out away from getting out of the seventh with the game tied 3-3 before Hickman singled.
"The ball went off my glove," said UNF senior third baseman Laura Hanstein, who made a diving effort at Hickman's liner before it squirted into left field. "I had a bad feeling as soon as they tied the game."
Carson Newman grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Kelli Pitts allowed an unearned run to score.
The Lady Ospreys took their first lead of the tournament in the third after a controversial play on a ball hit up the middle that Eagles shortstop LeAndrea Johnson appeared to field. It was ruled that Johnson did not have possession of the ball when she forced Ashley Parenteau out at second. That kept the inning alive for Kelli Rutenbar and Hanstein, who each delivered RBI singles. Hanstein drove home two runs with a double to left.
She finished the game 1-for-3, with two RBIs.
Kelli Pitts started the game in the circle for the Lady Ospreys, pitching five innings and allowing four hits while striking out one. Megan Elliott earned the complete-game win.
The game was the last for the Lady Ospreys in Division II, as UNF will make the jump to the Division I ranks next season.
