How SWOOP It Is: Softball Downs Jacksonville 4-2 For Series Sweep

Sunday, April 28

Jacksonville, Fla.

1 p.m.

University of North Florida

39-13, 17-6

Jacksonville

30-22, 11-15

UNF

Jacksonville

How SWOOP It Is: Softball Downs Jacksonville 4-2 For Series Sweep

4/28/2013 3:15:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

Boxscore (PDF)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – University of North Florida softball completed a three-game series sweep of cross-town rival Jacksonville with a 4-2 win on Sunday afternoon at the JU Softball Complex.

“We're really driven right now,” said head coach Marcie Hickey. “Today was much like yesterday. We didn't have huge numbers of hits, but we did the little things well. We're doing a great job at being hungry with runners in scoring position and getting the job done.”

With the win, UNF improves to 39-13 overall and 17-6 in the Atlantic Sun. The Ospreys' 39 wins is tied with the program's most Division I victories for a single season.

“It says a lot about the work our kids have put in all year long,” said Hickey. “This year's team has the ability to take one game at a time, no matter what. We didn't slack off after we got our asterisk yesterday and we're not going to slack off now. We have our eyes set on something and it's going to be one game at a time from here.”

Sunday's win also marked the first time since 2009 that UNF swept the series from the Dolphins. In 2010, the series was split, while Jacksonville swept the series each of the last two years.

“It's always a big win when you get one over JU,” said Hickey. “They have great offensive power and we managed to hold them to seven hits. We don't take for granted wins over any team.”

UNF got out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. With two outs, Mariah Reynolds swung at her first pitch and drilled a solo home run over the right field wall. It was the second time this series Reynolds had a home run and her 11th of the year.

Jacksonville tied it up at 1-1 in the bottom of the second. Ashley Simon dodged the tag at the plate on a Jacey Warner squeeze bunt in order to score the game-tying run.

UNF gained a three-run lead in the top of the fifth. With runners on the corners, Danica Mandarano scored the go-ahead on a squeeze bunt from Jackie Reese. Additionally, on the same play, a throwing error by the Dolphins put runners in scoring position for the Ospreys. With two outs, Ashley Holton laced a two-run double down the left field line, driving in Shay Richardson and Reese to make it 4-1.

Jacksonville threatened in the sixth. With runners on first and second and two outs, Emily Sanchez sent a hit up the middle, but the Ospreys committed a fielding error on the play, allowing Karson Tuck to get home from second and make it a 4-2 game. Another UNF error loaded up the bases for the Dolphins. However, after an Osprey pitching change, Mandarano caught a critical fly ball in center field to record the final out of the inning as the Dolphins left the bases loaded.

Kaylie Wallace was credited with the win after pitching 5.2 innings. Wallace gave up one earned run off six hits and fanned four batters. Cortney Radke notched her third save of the season, coming in for the final 1.1 innings. Radke only surrendered one hit during her time in the circle.

Dale Tillman had the loss after coming in relief. In the last 5.0 innings, Tillman allowed two earned runs off four hits. She also struck out two. Cecile Gomez pitched the first 2.0 innings for the Dolphins, allowing one run off two hits and striking out four.

Mariah Reynolds was 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI, while Ashley Holton was 1-for-2 with two RBI from the plate.

Both Sarah Simon and Ashley Simon were 2-for-3 for the Dolphins. Sarah Simon also had one run.

UNF returns to action on Wednesday with a mid-week single-game at Stetson. First pitch is set for 5 p.m., from Patricia Wilson Field.