Rutenbar double gives UNF a victory

Saturday, February 14

Orlando, Fla.

9 a.m.

University of North Florida

South Carolina

Kara Rutenbar leads UNF with four doubles this season.

2/14/2009 7:47:00 PM | Softball

Two games come down to final inning in Orlando

By: Shawn LaFata

South Carolina Box Score

Villanova Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. – University of North Florida junior Kara Rutenbar doubled home a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Lady Ospreys a 4-3 come from behind win Saturday against Villanova at the UCF Early Bird Invitational.

UNF (3-8) split the day's action, falling in its opener 2-1 to South Carolina before rallying to defeat Villanova.

Ashley Battaglia and Caroline Torre – who hit her first home run of the year – collected hits in both games to lead the UNF offense, while the pitching duo of Devyn Findley and Shaina Dent allowed only four earned runs in two games.

Dent (3-1) found herself in a jam in the opening inning against Villanova, surrendering three hits that put runners on the corners with one out. She was able to work her way out of the inning, only giving up one run. The UNF freshman settled down after that, giving up only one hit over the next five innings of play.

The UNF offense wasn't having much luck with Caitlyn Delahaba who held the Lady Ospreys hitless until Allyson Bailey reached on an infield single in the fifth.

UNF tied the game in the bottom of the sixth after Lauren Pulling led off the inning with a walk. Pulling was lifted for Laura Williams, who moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an Ashley Battaglia base hit to right center.

Villanova took the lead back in the top of the seventh when Natalie Hord tripled with two outs and scored on a base hit. Torre quickly took that run back in the bottom of the seventh with the team's first home run of the season, making it a 2-2 contest.

The Wildcats plated a run in the top of the eighth before Rutenbar struck in the bottom of the inning with a double that scored Williams and Ariana Godwin.

UNF's day began with a 2-1 loss to South Carolina, as the Gamecocks overcame an early deficit and scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Lady Ospreys took their first lead of the tournament in the top of the fourth inning when Battaglia led off the inning with a double and eventually scored from third when Bailey reached on an error. Battaglia continued her Orlando extra base hit barrage with her sixth extra base hit of the week, doubling to lead off the sixth inning. With the score tied 1-1, Torre sacrificed Battaglia to third, where she would stay after Airen Payne popped up to the pitcher and Bailey grounded out to short.

The Gamecocks finally broke the tie in the bottom of the seventh after a leadoff walk came back to haunt UNF hurler Devyn Findley. Laura Mendes drove home the winning run against the Lady Ospreys, ending the game with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Findley (0-5) allowed four walks and eight hits in the game and struck out six.

Battaglia led the offense with a pair of hits, while Torre and Rutenbar also had a hit for the Lady Ospreys.

UNF is back in action Sunday when it takes on Western Carolina at 11 a.m. The Lady Ospreys will return home Wednesday for a doubleheader against Albany at 4 p.m.