University of North Florida
PITTSBURGH
Softball newcomers perform
on opening day
2/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 9, 2007
BOCA RATON, Fla.- The
University of North Florida softball team received four
RBIs from newcomers Heather Hyde and Elizabeth Howell in a 5-3 win against Pittsburgh on Friday at
the FAU Miken Invitational.
The victory over Pitt (0-2) gave the Lady Ospreys a
split (1-1) on the first day of the tournament after
they fell to South Carolina (2-0) in the opener.
"It was good to get the first couple of games out of
the way and get back to competing again," UNF head
coach Sonya Wilmoth said. "We battled back in the
first game, but just didn't get hits with runners in
scoring position. We got the nerves out of the way in
that game, and challenged ourselves in the second
game to play like we know we are capable of playing."
Howell and Hyde had a base hit in each game, while
Gwen Williams went 3-for-4 against Pittsburgh and 4-
for-6 overall on the day.
After not scoring a run in its opening game against
South Carolina, UNF wasted little time jumping on
Pittsburgh, scoring two runs in the top of the first
after Hyde and Kelli Rutenbar each reached on one-
out walks. Howell followed them with a double to left-
center, driving home both runs.
UNF added two more runs in the top of the second
on a Hyde double that scored Mallory Butler and
Ashley Parenteau.
The Lady Ospreys finally capped their scoring in the
fifth when Williams tripled and scored on a wild pitch,
giving UNF a 5-0 advantage.
Katie Brosky (1-0) held Pitt scoreless until giving up a
three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth.
Freshman Devyn Findley came on in the seventh
working around a bases loaded situation that
included a couple of infield base hits to earn her first
save as a Lady Osprey.
"I thought Devyn handled the situation well for being
in that position as a freshman," Wilmoth said.
Findley also worked three innings of relief in the
opener, allowing a run on two hits.
Tori Ahern (0-1) was touched for two runs by the
Gamecocks in the first inning after allowing a two-run
home run, then gave up another run on a solo homer
in the fourth. Six of the seven runs UNF allowed on
the day came via the home run.
Rutenbar led the Lady Ospreys at the plate against
South Carolina with a 2-for-3 performance.
Action continues at FAU on Saturday when the Lady
Ospreys take on UCF at 9 a.m., followed by a 1 p.m.
contest with Miami (Ohio).
