University of North Florida
GARDNER-WEBB
Late rallies lead to split
4/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 15, 2006
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The University of North Florida softball team closed out its road trip to North Carolina with a split at Gardner-Webb on Saturday in Boiling Springs, N.C.
The Lady Ospreys (24-23, 7-7 A-Sun) came from behind with four runs in the final two innings to win the opener 4-1 before coming up short in a 6-5 loss to end the day.
"We had a good day today," UNF head coach Sonya Wilmoth said. "Tori Ahern did a good job and we hit the ball well and did a good job coming from behind in both games."
After falling victim to seventh-inning heroics from Campbell in the first two games of its road trip, it was UNF's turn in the opener against Gardner-Webb to win in the seventh inning. The Lady Ospreys scored a run in the sixth to tie GWU 1-1, before scoring three more in the seventh to take the opener 4-1.
Lindsay Cox got the scoring started in the bottom of the third inning for the Runnin' Bulldogs (10-28, 5-9 A-Sun) with a home run to left center.
UNF eventually answered that run in the sixth. Kelli Rutenbar led off the frame with a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Christina Evans, before moving to third on an Ashley Parenteau base hit. Rutenbar finally scored on a Haley Scism wild pitch.
Rutenbar put the Lady Ospreys ahead in the seventh with a base hit that squeaked through the left side of Gardner-Webb's drawn-in infield. Randalyn Rogers got the rally started with a one out walk, before Lauren Pulling and Kelli Richards followed with singles to load the bases and set the stage for Rutenbar.
The Lady Ospreys added two more in the frame when Pulling scored on a wild pitch and Evans drove home Richards with a sacrifice fly to left.
Ahern (8-9) nailed down the game from there with a perfect seventh inning. She allowed only one hit, while walking one and striking out four. Scism (7-16) suffered the loss for GWU.
Gardner-Webb wasted little time in game two, jumping all over Katie Brosky in the first inning of play, taking a 4-0 lead. Lindsey Whitfield highlighted the inning with a three run home run to left.
UNF began to claw its way back into the game with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. UNF loaded the bases with nobody out before Gwen Williams came through with her second hit of the game to drive in UNF's first run. Randalyn Rogers followed Williams with a bases-loaded walk before Pulling reached on a fielder's choice that drove home C.J. Jocham from second.
Alisha Phillips tied the game 4-4 in the top of the fifth with an RBI single that brought home Parenteau, who reached on a two-out single.
Parenteau extended her hitting streak to seven games with a 2-for-3 performance that saw her score a pair of runs.
The Runnin' Bulldogs took the lead right back in the bottom of the fifth when Kelly Linsley tripled for the second time in the game, driving home a pair of runs to give GWU a 6-4 advantage.
UNF took a run back in the sixth, but ran itself out of the inning after Kelli Richards was nailed at the plate on a double steal attempt.
"We made some mental mistakes on the basepaths today," Wilmoth said.
Taryn Beck (3-8) earned the complete-game win after pitching a perfect seventh inning to seal the victory.
UNF returns home next week for a pair of doubleheaders, hosting Armstrong Atlantic State on Tuesday at 2 p.m., before taking on Jacksonville Wednesday at 6 p.m. The final two points in the SunTrust River City Rumble will be on the line Wednesday, ending the year-long competition between the UNF and JU athletic programs.
