University of North Florida
Kennesaw State
UNF battles Kennesaw, comes up short
3/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 26, 2006
Game 1 Box
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The University of North Florida softball team came out on the losing end of a pair of shutouts to Kennesaw State on Sunday, losing 1-0 in nine innings in game one, and 3-0 in the nightcap.
"We got great pitching all day, but nothing behind the pitchers," UNF head coach Sonya Wilmoth said. "That's frustrating as a pitcher. The good thing for us is that Tori Ahern keeps getting better every time out."
Ahern came within one strikeout of her career high, fanning 11 Lady Owls in game two. The UNF right- hander, who has battled an injury all season, allowed five hits and walked two.
KSU (25-12, 5-1 A-Sun) scored a pair of runs in the second then added one more in the third when Kelly Cowart led off the inning with a triple and scored on a Kerri McKee squeeze bunt.
That was more than enough for KSU's Brittany Matthews (10-3), who surrendered only two hits and matched Ahern's 11 strikeouts. Ashley Parenteau and Kelli Rutenbar collected the hits for the Lady Ospreys. Parenteau led off the sixth inning with a double, then moved to third when Christina Evans reached on a Cowart error. Matthews retired the next three, leaving Parenteau stranded in scoring position.
The Lady Ospreys (16-17, 1-3 A-Sun) left 13 on base in the doubleheader, stranding eight in the opener.
Game one featured a pitching battle that both bullpens needed to finish. The teams remained scoreless until McKee finally singled with two outs in the ninth to drive home April Keasler, who chopped a ball over the head of pitcher Kelli Pitts to lead off the inning with an infield single.
Pitts (6-4) came on for starter Katie Brosky in the sixth and did not allow a hit until Keasler singled in the ninth.
Brosky received a little help from Evans in her last inning of work. Evans made a diving catch on a Cambria McKay line drive to center then pegged Cowart at the plate to end the inning after Jen Nolan singled up the middle.
"Evans came to this program as a third baseman, but has become one of the best outfielders we have ever had here," Wilmoth said. "She can make all of the plays out there."
Evans also had a pair of hits, including a double to lead off the sixth inning. She then moved to third on a Kelli Rutenbar single, but was stuck there after Andrea Moss (2-3) came on to record three outs in a row and keep the game scoreless. Moss left Evans standing on third again in the eighth after she allowed the UNF center fielder a free pass to begin the inning. Evans moved to second on a Rutenbar sacrifice bunt, then on to third when Caitlin Miller grounded out to first. That's all the further she would go, however, as Moss worked out of another jam.
UNF has scored only one run in its last 30 innings of play, losing three of its last four by shutout.
The Lady Ospreys will try to rectify that on Tuesday when they host Birmingham Southern in a 2 p.m. doubleheader at the UNF Softball Complex.
