UNF opens with pair of losses

Friday, February 8

Boca Raton, Fla.

4 p.m.

University of North Florida

South Carolina

Kara Rutenbar had three hits on day one in Boca Raton.

2/8/2008 7:51:05 PM | Softball

Parenteau collects four hits in two games

South Carolina Box

FAU Box

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The University of North Florida softball team opened its season with a pair of losses Friday at the FAU Kick-off Classic, falling to South Carolina 3-1 and host Florida Atlantic 7-0.

UNF saw a seventh-inning rally fall short in its opener against the Gamecocks before surrendering seven runs in the first four innings of the nightcap to Florida Atlantic to end the day 0-2.

One big hit was all it took for South Carolina in the opening game to secure a 3-1 victory. Lisa Longo's one-out double in the bottom of the third with the bases loaded plated three runs and put the Gamecocks ahead for good, spoiling a three-hitter thrown by Devyn Findley.

After not scoring a run in last year's opener against South Carolina, UNF wasted little time this year, scoring a run in the top of the first inning. Ashley Parenteau provided that run without the benefit of a hit, reaching on a walk to open the game then eventually coming all the way around to score after she stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and crossed the plate on wild pitch.

South Carolina countered, however, with three runs in the third inning. The Gamecocks took advantage of three-straight Findley (0-1) walks to load the bases before Longo brought everyone home with a double.

Kara Rutenbar led the Lady Ospreys at the plate with a pair of hits, while Findley and Parenteau also collected hits for UNF.

Parenteau reached on an infield single with no outs in the top of the seventh to load the bases for UNF. The Lady Ospreys, however, couldn't take advantage with the heart of the order at the plate, not scoring a run in the frame.

FAU jumped all over the Lady Ospreys in UNF's second game of the day, scoring a pair of runs in the first and second innings against Tori Ahern (0-1). The Owls took advantage of three Lady Osprey errors in the game, adding two runs in the third inning and one more in the fourth to complete the scoring. Joanna Kurycki came on in relief of Ahern, holding FAU scoreless in three innings of work.

Parenteau finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate, while Rutenbar had a double for her third hit of the day.

Action continues on Saturday at the FAU Kick-off Classic when UNF takes on UMass at 9 a.m. before squaring off with Maryland at 1 p.m.