Comeback effort falls a run short

Friday, February 20

Columbia, S.C.

5 p.m.

University of North Florida

South Carolina

Allyson Bailey had an RBI single in the third inning.

2/20/2009 10:19:00 PM | Softball

UNF rallies but falls to South Carolina 4-3

By: Shawn LaFata

Box Score

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of North Florida softball team could not bounce back from a 4-0 deficit to host South Carolina on the opening day of play at the Gamecock Classic.

The Lady Ospreys (4-11) rallied for three runs after falling behind by four in the second inning but couldn't atone for that final run.

UNF hurler Shaina Dent (4-2) struggled over the first two innings of play, surrendering a pair of home runs that led to all four Gamecock runs. Evan Childs struck first for South Carolina in the opening inning of play with a three-run blast that came after Dent gave up a two-out walk.

South Carolina catcher Kristen Stubblefield homered to left to open up the second inning before Dent was lifted in favor of Devyn Findley, who struck out 10 and only allowed one hit in her six innings of work.

The Lady Ospreys cut South Carolina's lead in half in the bottom of the third inning when back-to-back singles by Allyson Bailey and Airen Payne drove home two runs. Brittanie Block reached on a walk to lead off the third inning before Kara Rutenbar singled two batters later to extend her hitting streak to six games. They would later come around to score on the RBI singles by Bailey and Payne.

Ashley Battaglia hit her first home run of the season to lead off the fifth, pulling UNF within one. That's all the closer the Lady Ospreys would get, however.

UNF had plenty of opportunities in the game, leaving the bases loaded in the first inning and stranding six runners in scoring position overall.

The Lady Ospreys had six hits on the night with Ariana Godwin and Amanda Mosley also collecting base hits.

Action at the Gamecock Invitational continues on Saturday when UNF squares off with James Madison and Virginia.