University of North Florida
Rider
Williams' blast sends everyone home
3/22/2008 4:34:45 PM | Softball
Lady Ospreys sweep a pair from Rider
Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – University of North Florida second baseman
Williams topped off a comeback effort in the second game that saw the Lady Ospreys rally from a pair of four-run deficits as well as a one-run deficit heading into the bottom of the seventh. The Lady Ospreys (24-14) won the opener 9-3 before taking the second game 8-6.
That three-run home run helped complete a game that saw her go 4-for-4 at the plate with three doubles, a home run and five RBIs.
Williams had six hits overall on the day, while Heather Hyde had five hits, driving in three runs in the opener.
UNF never trailed in game one, but was forced to play from behind in the second contest after Joanna Kurycki allowed four Rider runs in the top of the first inning. The Broncs claimed a 5-1 lead in the top of the fourth before the comeback effort began for UNF in the bottom of the inning.
Stephanie Luciani helped start that fourth-inning rally with a base hit to lead off the frame. Stephany Hall came in to pinch run for her and scored when Ashley Parenteau tripled to right field to make it a 5-2 game.
Kara Rutenbar brought home Parenteau with a single and eventually scored on an Ashley Battaglia single. Williams tied the game 5-5 with her third-straight double, bringing home Hyde.
Rider reclaimed the lead with a run against reliever Tori Ahern (10-5) in the top of the seventh. That didn't last long, however, as Hyde led off the bottom of the seventh with a bloop single to left. Battaglia dropped a single into short left field to put the winning run on base, setting the stage for Williams who drove a pitch over the center field fence for the game winner plus one more.
The top four hitters in the Lady Osprey lineup – Parenteau, Rutenbar, Hyde and Battaglia – all had four hits and combined to score six of the team's eight runs.
The victory was the seventh in a row for UNF.
The Lady Ospreys ran that winning streak to six in the opener, scoring all the runs they would need in the first two innings of play.
UNF jumped on top in the bottom of the first thanks to RBIs by Hyde and Battaglia that made it a 2-0 game. Parenteau doubled that advantage an inning later with her sixth home run of the season, a two-out drive to right-center.
Devyn Findley's only hiccup of the game came when she allowed three runs in the top of the fourth inning. UNF, however, was able to answer that with a run in the bottom of fourth when Parenteau drove home Nicolette Chimato with a sacrifice fly to center.
Parenteau finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with a run and an RBI. She now has 23 career home runs, one behind Williams in the career home run race at UNF.
Hyde put an exclamation point on the win with a home run to left field that was part of a three-run sixth inning for UNF.
Findley (13-7) earned the win, allowing three runs – two earned – on two hits while tying a career-high with 11 strikeouts.
The Lady Ospreys will finish off their two-week home stand on Monday when they play host to Canisius at
