Rally leads to sweep of UAB

March 22, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- Some late- inning heroics and another gem in the pitching circle led to a UNF doubleheader sweep of UAB Thursday in Birmingham, Ala.

UNF (20-13) won the opener 1-0 behind a Devyn Findley's third shutout in her last four starts, before coming from behind to beat the Blazers (19-16) in the second game 4-2 in eight innings.

Gwen Williams and Christina Evans had a hit in both ends of the doubleheader, while Kara Rutenbar went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the nightcap. Williams scored the winning run in the first game and drove home the game two winning run.

"This was a good team effort for us, especially in the second game. We got contributions from everyone in the lineup," UNF head coach Sonya Wilmoth said. "We did a good job making adjustments at the plate in both games."

After allowing her first run in three games thanks to a double steal in her last outing, Findley put herself back in the shutout column with a 1-0 win in the opener. She allowed only six hits and shut down a couple of late-inning rallies by the Blazers.

Williams scored the only run of the contest in the top of the fourth, coming to the plate when Heather Hyde reached on a two-out error.

UAB put the first two runners on in the sixth, but couldn't get anything out of it, then had a chance to rally with two outs in the seventh. UAB's leading hitter, Holly Krzan, started the rally with a base hit before Andrea Rogers - the team's leading home run hitter - drew a walk. Findley (9-1) finally ended the game when she got Nicole Tumlin to fly out to left.

Findley struck out five and only gave up one walk. Jennifer Nelson (13-6) suffered the loss for UAB, surrendering four hits and striking out nine.

Krzan started UAB's only rally in game two with a double to center field. She later came in to score on Andrea Rogers' home run to left, as UAB took a 2-0 lead.

UNF cut the lead in half when Kara Rutenbar doubled to left center with two outs in the top of the fifth. Hyde - who reached on an error to lead off the inning - scored from first on the play.

UNF missed a bases-loaded opportunity with nobody out in the sixth, but came back in the seventh to tie score 2-2. Lauren Pulling led off the inning with a walk before moving to third by way of a sacrifice bunt and a Kara Rutenbar single to left. Kelli Rutenbar finally tied the game with a two-out infield base hit.

Williams put the Lady Ospreys ahead for good in the eighth with a double to right-center that plated Evans. She completed the scoring when Pulling singled to drive her home.

That was good enough for Katie Brosky (7-7), who came on in the fourth inning and earned the win after pitching 4.2 innings. She allowed two hits and two walks while striking out three.

"Katie was able to shut them down and give us a chance," Wilmoth said. "It was nice to see our offense give her a little cushion by scoring two runs in the top of the eighth."

The Lady Ospreys will close out their four-game road swing through Birmingham with a doubleheader at Birmingham-Southern on Friday beginning at 2 p.m. EST.

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