University of North Florida
UCF
Ospreys Too Much for UCF in Orlando, Rally for 5-4 Victory
2/27/2011 3:16:31 PM | Softball
ORLANDO, Fla. – Freshman Lauren Pollack knocked the first homerun of her collegiate career and batted 2-for-2 with a walk, RBI and two runs to lead the North Florida softball team (6-9) over host UCF (4-11) Sunday at the UCF/Courtyard by Marriott Invitational II at the UCF Softball Complex.
The Ospreys, after leading 3-2 after two innings and being held scoreless for three innings (3, 4, 5), began to find the bats again late to make a comeback since surrendering the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.
In the sixth frame, Pollack smacked her first career homerun down the right field line – a high ball that was gone the second it came into contact with the bat. Pollack's deep ball tied the game at 4-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.
In the final inning, North Florida put runners on first and second with no outs. Junior Alyson Bailey laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners into scoring position. The next batter was intentionally walked, loading the bases with one out. Freshman Mariah Thomas knocked in the eventual winning run on a fielder's choice, making the score 5-4 in the Ospreys favor heading into the bottom seventh.
UCF's Allie Jest singled to start off the seventh for the Knights, but was caught stealing at second on a perfect throw by catcher Jackie Reese. Two outs later, Tawny Swan drew a walk, putting the winning run on first. The next batter looked to get a hold of the ball and win the game with a walk-off homerun, but the ball was caught in left field on the warning track to end the game.
North Florida's freshman hurler Cortney Radke (5-7) was credited with the win after pitching a complete game. Radke worked seven innings, allowing four runs – three earned – on nine hits, while striking out six and walking two on the day.
The Knights reached the plate first, in the bottom of the first, plating two runs to take the initial lead. The lead would be short-lived, however, as North Florida loaded the bases with no outs in the second.
With the bases loaded, senior Caroline Torre hit a chopper back up the middle that was mishandled by the second baseman, which allowed her to reach first safely and a run to score. The game was knotted at 2-2 after the next batter walked, plating a run, still with no outs, forcing UCF to make a pitching change. The change helped as the new pitcher struck out two, but the Ospreys plated one more run on a deep sacrifice fly by Bailey to take a 3-2 lead into the bottom frame.
Bailey's season-best, and season team-best, five-game hitting streak was halted on Sunday though she helped the Osprey squad with two sacrifices. Junior Kaley Brosky extended her hitting streak to a season-best three games.
UCF regained the lead in the fifth inning, scoring two more runs to make the score 4-3. Natalie Land legged out a leadoff triple and reached the plate on Swan's single to right field in the next at-bat. Swan came around to score after stealing second and two sacrifice flies sent her to third and then home.
The Knights' Ashley Schmitt (0-3) dropped her third game of the year after working six innings in relief. Schmitt allowed two runs – both earned – on four hits, while striking out four and walking one.
Up next, the Ospreys open its home slate with a doubleheader against Florida A&M on Wednesday, March 2. The first game is slated for a 4 p.m. (ET) start.
