University of North Florida
Gardner-Webb
UNF blasts GWU, falls to Irish
2/23/2008 6:56:14 PM | Softball
Lady Ospreys will play for 3rd in Gainesville
Gardner-Webb Box
Notre Dame Box
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – It was feast or famine on day two of the Aquafina Invitational for the University of North Florida softball team, which split a pair of games on the University of Florida's home field.
The Lady Ospreys (8-7) opened the day with a 13-1 win before falling 1-0 for the second day in a row to Notre Dame. UNF banged out 15 hits in the opener, while being held to one hot by the Fighting Irish (4-4).
After not scoring a run over its last 28 innings of play at Katie Seashore Pressly Stadium, UNF made up for lost time and lost opportunities against Gardner-Webb. The Lady Ospreys exploded for eight runs over the first two innings of play in a 13-0 win.
UNF had been shutout in its previous four games at Florida's home field, including twice to open play at the Aquafina Invitational on Friday.
The Lady Ospreys posted five runs in the opening inning on Saturday after pitcher Tori Ahern worked her way out of a jam that saw Gardner-Webb put a pair of runners in scoring position with no outs.
The offense rewarded Ahern with five runs in the bottom of the first. Kara Rutenbar and Ashley Battaglia started the scoring with RBI singles before Devyn Findley cleared the bases with a three-run home run. UNF added three runs in the bottom of the second, two of which came on a Gwen Williams home run. Williams added another RBI to her totals in the third as part of a five-run rally that gave UNF a 13-0 lead. Findley, Stephanie Luciani and Ashley Parenteau all doubled home runs in the inning.
All but one Lady Osprey starter reached base in the game, while all but two collected a hit. Heather Hyde led the way with three hits, while Findley had four RBIs and Williams three.
Ahern (3-2) allowed only four hits in the five-inning win, striking out five and not allowing a walk, in winning her third-straight outing.
UNF used up its offense in the opening game of the day, falling in the semifinals of bracket play to Notre Dame 1-0.
“We swung the bats much better in our first game today than we did yesterday,” UNF head coach Sonya Wilmoth said. “We have gotten great pitching all weekend, just haven't given Devyn Findley enough run support.”
Findley (5-4) took the loss for UNF, giving up only five hits, while striking out five and walking three. In her three outings this weekend, Findley has allowed only five runs, but has not received a run from her offense in those three games.
Rutenbar's bloop single was UNF's lone hit against Notre Dame.
