University of North Florida
Kennesaw
Owls Finish Ospreys Season
5/8/2010 8:03:22 PM | Softball
Box Score 2
KENNESAW
Backed behind a three-hitter thrown by senior Devyn Findley (17-17), North Florida was not able to provide a run to help the left-hander win her final game as an Osprey in game one. UNF's all-time strikeouts leader (879) suffered the loss after allowing three runs on only three hits, registering nine K's.
Findley held off the Owls until the bottom of the third, when she allowed the second batter in the inning to get on base with a hit by pitch. Jordan Hackett then drilled a sharp grounder to Bailey, bobbling the ball just enough to not be able to punch out the lead runner, leaving runners on first and second. After harnessing a strikeout for the second out in the inning, Findley gave up a three-run home run to Swanson to left center. The home run was Swanson's fifth home run of the season and the team's 45th round tripper.
For the Owls, Cross tossed seven innings with UNF, scattering three hits.
In the top of the seventh, Hall hit a two-out double to left center. Sophomore Ariana Godwin followed by being hit in the helmet by a pitch that was up and in. Down 3-0 in the seventh with the tying run on base, sophomore Britanie Block pulled the ball down the third base line, but it was gobbled up by the third baseman, stepping on third for the easy force out.
In game two, both pitchers went the distance with Abbey Meixel (10-10) and Shaina Dent (6-13) picking up complete games. The only difference was the Owls' offense put up runs in the sixth to clinch a seed into the A-Sun Tournament.
Dent allowed two runs on four hits in game two, giving up a two-run home run in the sixth to Cross.
Offensively, the Ospreys came out swinging in game two and put together scoring opportunities that pressured KSU's defense, who made five errors in the game. UNF had chances to score, but the Owls' defense stepped up when they needed to, holding UNF scoreless.
In the third inning with the top of the lineup coming to bat, Block crushed a double, before being advanced by an error on the pitcher. With runners on the corners, junior Caroline Torre hit a deep fly ball to leftfield to score Block on the tag, but was later called out for leaving early, after the Owls appealed the call.
In the fifth inning, Godwin hit a double over Owls' leftfielder. Block then came up with a one-out base hit to put Godwin on third. In hopes of manufacturing UNF's first run of the day, head coach Marcie Hickey signaled for a suicide squeeze. Bailey laid the bunt down but Meixel made a great play to tag Godwin diving towards the outside part of the plate.
In the final inning with UNF down 2-0, the Ospreys were able to make one last fight to score with Bailey coming through with her second hit of the day to keep the inning alive with two outs, but North Florida was not able to put a run on the board, stranding their ninth runner of the game.
With the Ospreys two losses they were eliminated from any chances of making the A-Sun tournament in
