University of North Florida
NORTH DAKOTA STATE
UNF bounces back on day 2
2/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 17, 2007
CHARLESTON, S.C. - The University of North Florida softball team recovered from its 0-2 start at the Cougar Classic to win a pair of wins in Charlotte on Saturday.
UNF (5-4) opened the day with a 6-1 win against Manhattan before avenging yesterday's loss to North Dakota State, winning that contest 6-5.
"Overall today was a much better performance than yesterday," UNF head coach Sonya Wilmoth said. "We hit the ball better and drove in runners when we needed to. There was much better energy from the whole team today."
UNF opened the day with a combined two-hitter thrown by Tori Ahern and Devyn Findley. Ahern (1-2) earned her first win of the season, limiting Manhattan to only one run and one hit in five innings of work. She struck out five in the win, before Findley came on to nail the game down, pitching two innings and striking out five of the six batters she faced.
Christina Evans got the day started in the top of the first inning with her first home run of the season. UNF added an unearned run in the third before scoring two more in the fourth on back-back hits by Kelli Rutenbar and Gwen Williams.
Williams led UNF at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance that included a double and two runs. Heather Hyde and Elizabeth Howell also collected two hits in the win, with Howell driving in UNF's final run with a double in the sixth.
UNF put together a four-run rally against North Dakota State in the top of the sixth inning of game two then hung on for the victory.
Ashley Parenteau started the scoring with a two out, bases loaded double that drove in two. Evans followed her with a single that scored two, giving UNF a 6-3 advantage. NDSU countered with two runs in the bottom of the inning off of Findley. The UNF freshman pitched a perfect seventh inning to close out the Lady Osprey victory.
Parenteau led the Lady Ospreys with a 3-for-4 performance while Evans was 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Kara Rutenbar also chipped in three hits for UNF.
Katie Brosky (3-1) earned the win, going 4.2 innings, allowing seven hits and striking out three.
UNF closes out the Cougar Classic on Sunday with a matchup against James Madison.
