Softball Sweeps on Day Two at Troy Subway Invite, Advances to Sunday's Championship Game

Saturday, February 16

Troy, Ala.

Noon (EST)/11 a.m. (CST)

University of North Florida

6-2

Evansville

0-3

Evansville

North Florida

Softball Sweeps on Day Two at Troy Subway Invite, Advances to Sunday's Championship Game

2/16/2013 10:54:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: North Florida Athletics

UNF-Evansville Boxscore (PDF)
UNF-Troy Boxscore (PDF)

TROY, Ala. – University of North Florida softball finished pool play at the Troy Subway Invitational with a 7-2 win over Evansville on Saturday afternoon and the used a huge six-run seventh-inning to rally against host Troy in the evening during the first set of seeded games.

In the day's first game, the Ospreys scored runs in each of the first three innings against the Purple Aces. Jackie Reese blasted a two-run homer in the first inning that put UNF up 2-0. It was Reese's second home run of the tournament.

A Mariah Reynolds' single up the middle brought home Danica Mandarano in the second inning. In the third, Reese scored on a Lauren Pollack double that gave the Ospreys a 4-0 lead.

Evansville got both of its runs in the fifth, getting runs on a sacrifice fly and a double to left center. However, UNF pulled away from Evansville with three runs in the sixth. Megan Mihalik sent a two-run hit down the left field line that brought home Mandarano and Lexi Taylor. Shay Richardson later reached home on a Brittany Hendrix bases-loaded fielder's choice.

Kaylie Wallace picked up the win after 4.1 innings. She struck out two and allowed five hits. Both of Evansville's runs were unearned. Cortney Radke had the save after closing out the final 2.2 innings with three strikeouts and allowing two hits.

Annie Moore received the loss after allowing four runs off seven hits in 4.0 innings. She also struck out two.

Reese led UNF from the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Pollack was also 2-for-3 from the plate and added one RBI.

Halie Malone was 2-for-3 for Evansville and Victoria Dellorto was 2-for-4.

In the day's second game, after being up 1-0 in the first on an Ashley Holton RBI-triple, UNF found itself needing to rally. Troy tied the game at 1-1 in the second on a Bailey Blake RBI-single and then used a three-run Hannah Renn shot in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead.

Troy tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh when a Brittany Russ double to left center brought home Renn and Ebony Wright to make it 6-1.

However, the momentum quickly shifted to UNF's favor in the bottom half of the seventh. After Kelly Wilson led off with a double, a Troy throwing error allowed Katie Mandigo to reach first and Wilson to score and make it a 6-2 game. A Reynolds single to left field loaded up the bases for Megan Mihalik. Another Troy miscue resulted in Mihalik reaching second, while bringing in a pair of runs that make it 6-4. After Abby Tewey walked, the bases were loaded for Marissa Thomas, who sent a walk-off double to right center that brought home three runs and capped UNF's comeback.

Wallace got her second win of the day after coming in for the last 0.2 innings. She struck out two and allowed one run off two hits.

Sarah Thomas got the loss after facing the game's last two batters, giving up one hit.

Holton was 2-for-3 from the plate with one RBI and one run, while Marissa Thomas was 2-for-4 with three RBI.

Russ led the Trojans by going 2-for-4 with two RBI.

UNF now wraps up the Troy Subway Invitational on Sunday in the Championship against Virginia Tech at 2 p.m., EST. UNF and Virginia Tech started the Troy Subway Invitational on Friday with the Hokies taking a 3-1 win over the Ospreys.