University of North Florida
Canisius
UNF rallies for win; falls short in nightcap
3/24/2008 7:05:55 PM | Softball
Rutenbar leads team with five hits on the day
Game 2 Box
JACKSONVILLE
The Lady Ospreys scored three runs in their final two at-bats to win the opener 3-2 before rallying from a 5-0 deficit only to lose the second game 6-5. That loss in game two snapped UNF's eight-game winning streak as well as its 20-game winning streak at home against non-conference competition.
Kara Rutenbar had five hits on the day to lead the UNF offense while Lauren Pulling collected a hit in each game and drove home three runs.
UNF (25-15) found itself in a 2-0 hole after the first half inning of play in the opener after the Griffs sent eight batters to the plate against Devyn Findley in the inning and plated a pair of runs. The Lady Ospreys put a runner on base in every inning but couldn't get anyone across the plate in the first four.
The team finally turned that trend around in the fifth with a pair of runs to tie the game. Rutenbar got the rally started with a one-out base hit before moving to third on Heather Hyde's 13th double of the season. The Griffs intentionally walked A-Sun Player of the Week Gwen Williams to load the bases, forcing the issue on UNF catcher Ashley Battaglia. She delivered with a single to right-center that tied the game 2-2.
Kacie McCloud led off the bottom of the sixth inning with an infield hit then moved up to second on a Laura Williams sacrifice bunt. Rutenbar followed two hitters later with a single through the left side of the infield that gave McCloud an opportunity to score. Rachelle Barrientos' throw to the plate arrived early enough to nail McCloud, but the UNF freshman was able to slide around Angela's Turrey's tag and touch home for the game-winning run.
Findley (14-7) took care of the rest in the bottom of the seventh, setting down the top three in the Griffs' order to record her seventh out in a row and preserve the win. She struck out seven in the win and allowed five hits.
Rutenbar was 4-for-4 at the plate to lead the Lady Ospreys, while the Griffs' Cameron Norton was 2-for-2.
UNF dug itself another hole in game two, giving up four unearned in the first two innings of play. UNF hurler Tori Ahern allowed all four of those runs to cross with two outs, but was not charged with an unearned after her defense committed three errors behind her.
Canisius made it 5-0 in the top of the fifth on a Michelle Fridey RBI single and appeared to be in complete control behind pitcher Juliette Bowers, who only gave up one hit in her first six innings of work.
UNF finally got to Bowers in the sixth, loading the bases on three-straight hits. Pulling brought those runners home with a double to right-center that just cleared the out-stretched arm of Canisius right fielder Brittany Bonetto to make it a 5-3 contest.
Canisius, however, plated its fifth unearned run of the day thanks to a pair of UNF errors in the top of the seventh inning to grab a 6-3 advantage.
The Lady Osprey offense pressed on in the bottom of the seventh when McCloud and Stephany Hall reached on consecutive walks to start the inning. They both moved into scoring position on a Jess Stackhouse wild pitch before Parenteau drove home McCloud with a groundout to second. Rutenbar reached on an error one batter later to allow the second run of the inning to come in, cutting UNF's deficit to one. Heather Hyde was hit by a pitch before Williams reached on another Canisius error to load the bases. Morris, however, nailed the door shut on the Lady Ospreys, redeeming herself from the opening-game loss when she forced Ashley Battaglia to pop up to short before striking out Pulling to end the game.
Juliette Bowers (4-1) earned the win, while Morris earned her first save of the season. Ahern (10-6) suffered the loss, allowing five runs – one earned – on five hits while striking out three.
UNF will hit the road this week when it travels to Florida A&M on Wednesday before taking on
