Moseley doubles UNF to victory over FSU

Monday, March 23

Jacksonville, Fla.

2 p.m.

University of North Florida

Florida State

Amanda Moseley's double gave UNF a 5-3 win in game two.

3/23/2009 8:00:00 PM | Softball

Freshman drives home three in win

By: Shawn LaFata

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With one swing of the bat, University of North Florida second baseman Amanda Moseley gave the Lady Ospreys their second win against a ranked opponent in three days, helping her team to a split against 22^nd-ranked Florida State.

UNF (15-17) fell 7-0 in the opener and appeared headed for a doubleheader sweep at the hands of Florida State (23-9), until a sixth-inning rally that saw the Lady Ospreys plate four runs and make up a 3-1 deficit to claim a 5-3 win.

Sarah Hamilton got the best of the Lady Ospreys in the opener, shutting the UNF offense down and allowing only one hit in the win. Florida State turned to her again in relief in game two, but she was unable to bail her team out of a jam after coming into the contest with two runners on and the Seminoles clinging to a two-run lead.

Arianna Godwin helped start the rally for UNF against Lauren Varsalona, drawing a walk to lead off the top of the sixth. Ashley Battaglia followed her with a single that found its way through the left side of the FSU infield before Hamilton came into the game.

Kara Rutenbar greeted Hamilton with a bunt single to load the bases. Two batters later Moseley delivered a double to the gap in left center that brought everyone home. Moseley almost didn't get the opportunity to play the role of hero for the Lady Ospreys after colliding with Florida State's Kristie McConn on a sacrifice bunt in the top of the second inning. Moseley injured her hip on the play and was forced to sit out for two innings after being shaken up on the collision.

She showed no signs of pain when she scored UNF's final run of the game, racing home from third on a Hamilton (9-4) wild pitch after Caroline Torre moved her over from second on a groundout.

“It was a little nerve-racking but our offense finally came through in the sixth inning,” UNF coach Marcie Hickie said. “We picked up our energy level in the second game and that was the biggest difference. It was a big confidence builder after we were able to hit a pitcher who shut us down in the first game.”

Shaina Dent (7-4) closed the door on the Seminoles in the seventh inning, pitching a 1-2-3 frame to earn the complete-game win.

The Seminoles touched Dent for a pair of home runs early in the game, building a 3-0 lead before Battaglia helped her pitcher out with her sixth home run of the season to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning.

Dent surrendered five hits in the win, while striking out five and walking three.

After going hitless in the opening game, Battaglia rebounded to lead UNF with three hits, a run and an RBI in the nightcap. UNF had seven hits in all in the game, while Payne had two for UNF.

The win was the second victory for the Lady Ospreys against a ranked opponent this season after UNF downed Florida Gulf Coast 8-2 on Saturday.

Kaleigh Rafter led the Seminole offense with a home run in each game.

Hamilton and Devyn Findley locked horns in the opener, with Findley (7-10) holding the Seminoles to only an unearned run through the first six innings of play. Florida State finally rallied in the sixth inning for six runs to preserve the win for Hamilton. Torre collected the only hit of the game for the Lady Ospreys, grounding a single up the middle in the bottom of the fifth inning.

UNF gets back on the field Wednesday when it hosts Brown in a doubleheader at 3 p.m.