University of North Florida
MERCER
UNF wins marathon game at Mercer
4/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 2, 2006
MACON, Ga. - The University of North Florida softball team battled Mercer for 14 innings in game one of a doubleheader split Sunday at Sikes Field in Macon, Ga., winning the first game 7-6 before Mercer came from behind to win the second game 7-4.
Caitlin Miller led the UNF offensive attack, going a combined 4-for-7 in the doubleheader with a pair of RBIs and two runs.
"I was really impressed with our fight in the first game," UNF head coach Sonya Wilmoth said. "I wish we could have closed it out earlier, but that's a lot to ask to battle like that for 14 innings."
UNF finally outlasted Mercer in game one, pushing a run across in the top of the 14th inning on a Caitlin Miller infield single that scored Kelli Rutenbar with two outs.
After being one out away from ending the game in two previous innings, Kelli Pitts finally closed the door in the bottom of the 14th, thanks to a game-ending double play that saw Christina Evans who record an out on a Kelley Bretscher fly ball, before throwing Lindsay Tallamantes out at the plate to end the game.
The teams went to extra innings tied 1-1, before UNF's Randalyn Rogers cleared the bases with a double to right center that scored three in the top of the 10th.
The Bears answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the 10th
UNF starter Tori Ahern lasted into the 10th inning before giving up a walk and a hit and leaving in favor of Pitts. Ahern carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and didn't allow a run until the bottom of the seventh when Jamie Madruga scored on an April Cunningham base hit to right.
UNF opened the scoring in the top of the seventh when Gwen Williams was hit by a pitch with two outs then scored from first when Caitlin Miller punched a ball to right that drove her home.
Bears' starter Katie Rosentretter lasted 11 innings, allowing five runs - one earned - while striking out 11 Lady Ospreys.
The teams traded single runs in the 11th and 13th before the Lady Ospreys scored one on Stephanie Rossman in the 14th. Pitts (8-4) earned the win, throwing five complete innings, while allowing two unearned runs on two hits.
Miller and Rogers each had a pair of hits to lead UNF.
Rogers and Miller gave UNF a 2-0 lead in game two when they both came around to score on a Williams single to right.
Mercer countered with two runs in the bottom of the second before Miller made it a 3-2 game with a two-out RBI single in the third. The Lady Ospreys upped their advantage back to two in the top of the fourth when Lauren Pulling came into score on a Mercer error.
Rosentretter, however, hit a grand slam home run in the bottom of the seventh off Katie Brosky (5-6) to put Mercer ahead 7-4 and earn the split.
Rossman (5-9) earned the complete-game win, allowing five hits and striking out four. Brosky walked seven and struck out four in the loss.
The Lady Ospreys return home on Friday when they host Lipscomb in a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
