University of North Florida
Kentucky
Softball Falls to No. 35 Kentucky and No. 34 FIU on Final Day of Combat Classic
2/13/2011 7:07:44 PM | Softball
Game One (Kentucky) Box Score ::: Game Two (FIU) Box Score
MIAMI, Fla. – The North Florida softball team wrapped up competition at the Combat Classic in Miami, Fla. on Feb. 13 with two games against top-35 ranked opponents at the FIU Softball Complex. The No. 35 Kentucky Wildcats (4-1) took game one with a 5-2 victory, while No. 34 Florida International (2-3) claimed the second game of the day, 3-0, over the North Florida (0-5) squad.
Up next, the Ospreys will travel to Orlando Fla. for a single game on Feb. 16 against UCF. The game is slated to start at 6 p.m. (ET).
GAME ONE
The Ospreys fell to the No. 35 Kentucky Wildcats, 5-2, in the rescheduled game after rain delays on Saturday pushed the matchup to Sunday afternoon. North Florida held its first lead of the year after scoring the first run of the game in the first inning.
The Ospreys' lead, though short-lived, came in the top of the first. Junior Kaley Brosky led off the game with a single and following two errors by the Kentucky pitcher and right fielder, scored from first. The errors left junior Alyson Bailey on third with no outs but she never made it to home plate as the next three batters tallied consecutive outs.
Kentucky answered back in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs to take the lead. With two outs and the bases loaded, the Ospreys shortstop overthrew first base which resulted in two of the runners crossing home plate to make the score 2-1. The Wildcats reloaded bases when the next batter walked, but a groundout back to the pitcher ended the danger.
The North Florida squad tied the game in the third after freshman Marissa Thomas singled up the middle, scoring Bailey who had doubled earlier in the inning. The Ospreys' had a chance to retake the lead with a runner on third with two outs, but a popup to shortstop brought an end to the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, Kentucky retook the lead with three runs and wouldn't look back. A double scored a run from first, then later in the inning, a loaded bases walk and sacrifice fly to right field added the second and third runs of the frame.
The Wildcats' hurler Ellen Weaver (1-0) earned the win, tossing a complete game on four hits, two runs – one earned – while striking out five. North Florida's junior pitcher Richelle Raley (0-1) was tagged with her first loss of the year on four hits, five runs – three earned – while walking eight and fanning four in 3 1/3 innings of work.
GAME TWO
North Florida dropped a hard-fought game, 3-0, against tournament host No. 34 Florida International. It took 5 1/2 innings for the first run to cross the plate as the Ospreys and Panthers battled for the advantage in a pitchers dual.
North Florida's freshman hurler Cortney Radke (0-4) was tagged with her fourth loss of the year, allowing all three runs in the sixth inning. Radke allowed five hits, walked four and fanned four during six innings of work. The Panthers' junior Jenn Gniadek (1-2) earned her first win of the year, pitching a two-hitter in a complete game seven innings in the circle, striking out 10 and walking six on the day.
The Ospreys lost out on a great opportunity in the third inning, stranding two after a leadoff walk and double by juniors Kaley Brosky and Alyson Bailey, respectively. Brosky showed great patience at the plate, drawing four walks during the game.
In the sixth inning, Florida International finally broke through and tallied the three runs needed to win the game. With the bases loaded and just one out, a single up the middle scored one. Then with the bases, again loaded but with two outs, a single to right field brought in two more runs for the Panthers.
