Another Two Wins For #SB at the Osprey Invitational

Saturday, February 15

Jacksonville, Fla.

4:45 p.m.

University of North Florida

7-1

Troy

4-4-1

North Florida

Troy

2/15/2014 10:45:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: North Florida Athletics

UNF-Troy Boxscore (PDF)
UNF-Southern Illinois (PDF)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – University of North Florida softball picked up two more wins on the second day of the Osprey Invitational at the UNF Softball Complex. The Ospreys posted a 5-2 win over Troy in the first game and then used a big bottom of the sixth to rally and defeat Southern Illinois 9-4.

"We did a better job today with our whole game coming together today," said head coach Marcie Hickey. "Our bats were strong and consistent and we did a great job on defense. In the second game, Kayla did a great job coming in relief and pitched several strong innings."

Troy got out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first in Game One. Chandler Griffin scored on a Michelle Phelps single up the middle.

However, UNF answered with a two-run top of the second. Rachel Engel hit a RBI single to left center to drive home Abby Tewey. Lexi Taylor ripped a double to right field in the next at-bat in order to bring home Engel and put UNF up 2-1.

An RBI double to right field allowed Troy's Alison Milam to score and tie the game at 2-2. The tie was short-lived as UNF responded in the top of the fourth. With two out and runners on the corners, a wild pitch allowed Ashley Holton to score and make it 3-2.

The Ospreys had another two-run inning in the top of the fifth when Ashia Kerr blasted a two-run shot to right center.

Kaylie Wallace was credited with the win after pitching 7.0 innings. Wallace struck out six and allowed one earned run off three hits.

Ashley Rainey had the loss after allowing three runs off six hits in 4.0 innings. She also struck out three.

Engel was 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run, while Kerr was 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run.

In the second game, Southern Illinois took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Jayna Spivey scored on an Osprey miscue. However, UNF responded with a two-run bottom of the first. Tewey's double to left field brought home Wilson to tie it at 1-1. An illegal pitch during the next at-bat allowed Kerr to cross home and put UNF up 2-1.

Southern Illinois regained the lead in with two runs in the top of the second. Kelsea Ashton had an RBI triple that scored Lacey Newbold to tie the game. Ashton then got home on a wild pitch to put the Salukis up 3-2.

UNF and Southern Illinois were scoreless for the next four innings before the Ospreys exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Ospreys got a two-run homer from Wilson, an RBI triple from Holton, an RBI double from Marissa Thomas, RBI singles from Katie Mandigo and Tewey and a sac fly from Mandarano in order to rally and go up 9-3.

Southern Illinois added one last run in the top of the seventh on an Osprey miscue to cut UNF's lead down to five.

Kayla Goff, who came in relief, had the win after striking out eight and allowing no earned runs off two hits in 6.0 innings.

Alyssa Wunderlich was credited with the loss after allowing three earned runs off 10 hits. She also struck out four batters.

Wilson, Tewey, Holton and Mandigo each had two hits for the Ospreys.

UNF concludes play at the Osprey Invitational on Sunday against Ohio at 2 p.m., at the UNF Softball Complex. Admission to all UNF home softball games is free.