University of North Florida
Miami (Ohio)
UNF squeaks by Charlotte in extra innings
3/9/2008 7:19:36 PM | Softball
Lady Ospreys leave town with split
Miami (Ohio) Box
Charlotte Box
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The University of North Florida softball team left the 49er Invitational with a win on Sunday, defeating host Charlotte 4-3 after opening the day with a 5-3 loss to Miami (Ohio).
The win against
The Lady Ospreys slugged out 18 hits against the 49ers, but left 20 runners on base, spoiling a Joanna Kurycki start that saw her retire the first 12 batters she faced. Tori Ahern was there to pickup her teammate, pitching three innings of hitless relief while not allowing a run and striking out seven. She did not allow a hit in extra innings and struck out four of the eight batters she faced.
“I came in trying to throw strikes and get outs,” Ahern said. “I was pleased when I was able to get the first out in extra innings. I felt more under control today than yesterday. The weather was more conducive to pitching today and I wanted to redeem myself after losing to
UNF scored runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings, but failed to tack on more after leaving runners in scoring position in every inning except the bottom of the sixth. Gwen Williams drove home the first run of the game with a double to left-center that scored Hyde from second. Hyde made it a 2-0 game in the bottom of the fourth when she singled down the left field line to bring home Kacie McCloud.
While UNF was denting the scoreboard a little bit at a time, Kurycki was swiftly working her way through the
Charlotte finally scratched the scoreboard in the fifth, but UNF took that run back in the bottom of the inning after Ashley Battaglia led off the frame with a base hit and eventually scored on a Laura Williams single up the middle to give UNF a 3-1 lead.
Kurycki finally ran into trouble in the seventh inning, loading the bases with nobody out before handing the ball over to Ahern. The senior retired the first two batters she faced with strikeouts, but gave up a bloop single and a walk with the bases loaded that allowed the 49ers to tie the game 3-3.
UNF loaded the bases again in the eighth and failed to score and almost let Charlotte off the hook again in the ninth before Hyde's rocket shot with two outs and the bases juiced was too much for Keri Palma to handle. The ball bounced off of
Hyde led the team with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate that included a pair of RBIs and a run. Hyde had 10 hits over the weekend to lead UNF.
Kara Rutenbar, Gwen Williams, Lauren Pulling, Carolina Torre, McCloud and Laura Williams all had two hits against the 49ers.
The day got off to a good start for the Lady Ospreys, which took a 3-0 lead, but couldn't hold off a late rally by
UNF jumped on the board in the bottom of the first inning when Gwen Williams drove home Ashley Parenteau with an RBI single. Hyde scored a run two innings later on a wild pitch before Battaglia drove a pitch out to left for her second home run of the season. The solo shot gave UNF a 3-0 lead, but it was a lead the Redhawks would eventually overcome.
UNF had only four hits in the game, with Battaglia collecting two of those.
UNF will take a day off before heading to
