UNF shuts down JU in sweep

Monday, April 6

Jacksonville, Fla.

4:30 p.m.

University of North Florida

Shaina Dent (left) and Ashley Battaglia helped lead UNF to a pair of wins.

4/6/2009 10:29:00 PM | Softball

Lady Ospreys take two in SunTrust River City Rumble

By: Shawn LaFata

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida softball team swept a SunTrust River City Rumble doubleheader at its cross-town rival's field, downing the downing the Dolphins 4-0 behind a shutout performance from Devyn Findley in the opener before winning 3-2 in eight innings to close out the day.

The UNF (20-22, 7-7 A-Sun) pitching duo of Findley and Shaina Dent gave up only one walk in 15 innings of work, while Ashley Battaglia had four hits on the day to help the UNF offense to help the Lady Ospreys capture their fourth win in a row against JU (18-24, 3-9 A-Sun)

UNF scratched across a run in the top of the second of the opener to take a 1-0 advantage. Kara Rutenbar led the inning off with a single up the middle before moving to second on an Airen Payne bunt and scoring on a Caroline Torre base hit.

Payne made it a 2-0 game two innings later with her fourth home run of the year, a drive that cleared the scoreboard in left field. UNF doubled that lead to four in the top of the fifth inning, taking advantage of a JU error as well as an RBI single by Battaglia that scored Laura Williams. Brittanie Block came home to score one batter later when Rutenbar laid down a squeeze bunt to score her from third.

That was enough for Findley (9-15), who allowed baserunners in every inning except the seventh but was able to work her way out of every jam she found herself in, shutting out the Dolphins on eight hits. Findley did not allow a walk and struck out five.

Block led the way offensively for UNF, going 3-for-4 with a run. Rutenbar and Payne each had a pair of hits for the Lady Ospreys, who had 10 overall in the game.

UNF opened the scoring in the top of the fourth of game two, pushing a run across when Amanda Moseley drove home Nicolette Chimato with a two-out base hit to left center. Battaglia started the rally with a base hit before Chimato came on to pinch run for her. Battaglia got the offense going again in the sixth, stroking her league-leading 22nd double before Payne reached on an error to bring Battaglia home.

While UNF's offense was building the team a lead, Dent was cruising through the Dolphin lineup, giving up a single to Ashley Mora to lead off the second inning before JU finally got to her in the sixth. She didn't allow another hit until the seventh inning when Amanda Schmidt reached on a single and scored on Amber Moseley's first home run of the season.

UNF wasted little time taking the lead back, scoring a run in the top of the eighth after Ariana Godwin led off the extra frame with a walk before stealing second, advancing to third on a Battaglia single and scoring on a Rutenbar infield single.

Dent (10-5) shook off the Moseley longball to pitch a perfect eighth inning. The UNF freshman allowed three hits in the game, walked one and struck out three.

Monday's doubleheader began a busy week for UNF, which takes on Bethune-Cookman in a single game at home on Wednesday at 5 p.m. before hosting Kennesaw State Friday at 3 p.m. and Mercer Saturday at 2 p.m.