University of North Florida
East Tennessee State
Hyde belts three home runs in UNF sweep
3/28/2008 5:34:19 PM | Softball
Findley sets career-high with 13 strikeouts
Game 2 Box
JOHNSON CITY
The Lady Ospreys (29-15, 6-2 A-Sun) hit six home runs on the day – four of which were three-run home runs – and received dominant performances from Devyn Findley and Tori Ahern in the pitching circle.
Findley set a career-high in strikeouts for the second-straight outing, setting down 13 Lady Buccaneers (16-20, 3-5 A-Sun), while Ahern only surrendered two hits in a five-inning outing.
“If this isn't the best we can play, I would be scared to see what is,” UNF head coach Sonya Wilmoth said. “I have never been part of a performance where somebody it three home runs in one day. I told Heather Hyde she should strike out her first two times more often.”
After being retired on strikes in her first two at-bats, Hyde broke a scoreless tie in the first game with her first home run of the game before hitting two out of the park in the nightcap.
For the second game in a row Findley set a career-high in strikeouts, mowing down 13 Lady Buc hitters in a 7-1 victory to open play on the day. Findley narrowly missed her second-straight shutout after she committed an error in the bottom of the seventh inning to allow the only run of the game to score.
Findley and ETSU's Marissa Hardy went toe-to-toe for the first five innings of play, with each pitcher only allowing one hit and surrendering one walk apiece.
UNF's bats finally thawed out from the chilly
Ashley Parenteau hit the team's second three-run home run of the day one inning later to give UNF a 6-0 lead. The Lady Ospreys added one more in the inning before giving up their only run of the day thanks to a couple of errors in the bottom of the seventh.
Findley gave up only one hit on the day to go along with her one unearned run while walking three. Katy Jett had ETSU's only hit in the game, while McCloud was 2-for-3 with a couple of runs scored.
Battaglia – who was 3-for-4 at the plate in the opener – helped get a UNF rally started in the second game, leading off the second inning with a double to right center, her second of three doubles on the afternoon. Laura Williams drove her home with a bloop single to center.
Hyde launched her second home run of the game and sixth of the season an inning later, connecting on a solo blast to right to give UNF a 2-0 lead. Kara Rutenbar continued the home run parade one inning later with UNF's third three-run home run of the day. The drive down the left field line gave the Lady Ospreys a 5-0 advantage and extended her hitting streak to 10 games in the process.
Hyde and Gwen Williams finally finished ETSU off in the top of the fifth inning, accounting for five of the six runs in the inning on home runs. Hyde's third home run of the day – another three-run home run – made it 10-0 before Williams hit her team-leading 10th home run of the season to make it an 11-0 game. Williams' home run tied a career-high that she set last season and moved her two home runs away from tying UNF's single-season home run record.
Hyde has seven home runs this season, which also sets a career-high for the senior. She finished the day with four hits overall and seven RBIs.
UNF pounded out 14 hits in the nightcap with Rutenbar, Hyde, Battaglia, Gwen Williams and Lauren Williams each collecting two hits. The Lady Ospreys have now hit 35 home runs as a team, one off of their team record.
Ahern (12-6) allowed only two hits in the win while walking one and striking out two.
UNF will wrap up its conference road trip with a pair of games on Sunday at
