University of North Florida
GEORGIA SOUTHERN
UNF wins 1st, shutout in 2nd
3/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 8, 2006
STATESBORO, Ga. - The University of North Florida softball team split a doubleheader with Georgia Southern on Wednesday in Statesboro, Ga., winning the first game 3-2 before falling in the second 3-0.
"We hit the ball well in the first game and just ran into one big inning in the second," UNF head coach Sonya Wilmoth said. "I didn't think we had the attacking mentality in the second game that we did in the first."
Ashley Parenteau hit her team-leading fifth home run of the season in the top of the fifth inning to help lead UNF to a 3-2 win in the opener. Kelli Pitts (3-2) kept the Eagles at bay from there, allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits.
UNF (13-9) scored a pair of runs in the top of the third after Christina Evans and Amy Higgs both reached on infield singles. Alisha Phillips brought them both home two batters later with a single to center.
Georgia Southern struck back in the bottom of the third when Carrie Black reached on an infield hit and eventually came around to score on a Lady Osprey error.
The Eagles (9-16) pulled within one in the bottom of the seventh when Heather Smith collected her third hit of the day, doubling to right-center to drive home Black.
Higgs led the Lady Ospreys at the plate, going 2-for- 4 with a run.
Smith and Aurora Johnson got the scoring started for Georgia Southern in the second game, hitting back- to-back home runs off of Katie Brosky (5-4) in the bottom of the third. Black started the scoring in the third with a two out base hit before Smith homered to left to make it 2-0. Johnson struck one batter later with her fourth home run of the year.
UNF had a chance to jump on the board in the second inning, but left the bases loaded to end the frame. Higgs led off the top of the third inning with a triple to right, but was stranded there. Kelli Rutenbar also reached third in the sixth inning after leading off the frame with a walk, but did not score.
The Lady Ospreys failed to take advantage of six Melissa Laliberte walks, stranding eight runners in the contest.
Laliberte (4-4) earned the complete-game shutout win, giving up only three hits.
UNF will take a day off before heading to Tallahassee for the Florida State Invitational this weekend. The Lady Ospreys open play on Friday against Bradley at 10:30 a.m.
