#SB Swept in Doubleheader at Kennesaw State

Saturday, March 8

Kennesaw, Ga.

1 p.m.

University of North Florida

15-6, 1-3

Kennesaw State

9-9, 1-0

North Florida

Kennnesaw State

3/8/2014 7:39:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: North Florida Athletics

Game One Boxscore (PDF)
Game Two Boxscore (PDF)

KENNESAW, Ga. – Mariah Reynolds blasted three home runs – including the third grand slam of her career – on Saturday, but University of North Florida softball was swept by Kennesaw State on Saturday during the series-opening doubleheader at the Bailey Softball Complex.

Reynolds had two of her homers come in Game One and then blasted her third in Game Two.

In Game One, UNF jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the top of the first. The Ospreys had a two-run lead after Kelly Wilson scored on an Abby Tewey RBI single, while Katie Mandigo drew a bases loaded walk that allowed Ashia Kerr to score. Following Mandigo's at-bat, Reynolds drilled her third career grand slam over the left field wall to put the Ospreys up by six.

Kennesaw State chipped away at the Ospreys' lead with a two-run first inning and a three-run second. A wild pitch and a groundout to first allowed the Owls' first two runs to score. In the second, Kennesaw State took advantage of an Osprey throwing error that allowed Bianca Durant to score. Sara Sikes sent a two-out hit up the middle to bring home Taylor Denton and Kara Chambers and make it a one-run, 6-5 game.

UNF pushed its lead to two in the third as Danica Mandarano was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, allowing Tewey to score and put the Ospreys up 7-5.

However, Kennesaw State used a five-run fifth inning to take a 10-5 lead on UNF. Megan Veringa sent a two-run homer to left center. Chambers got home on a two-out Denton single. The Owls capped the inning with Angie Discoli's two-run triple down the right field line.

UNF added one more run in the seventh as Reynolds hit a solo shot to right center, but that was as close as the Ospreys could get.

Kayla Goff, who came in relief, had the loss after allowing five runs off six hits in the final 4.1 innings.

Amanda Henderson was credited with the win, giving up eight runs off nine hits in 7.0 innings. She also struck out five.

Reynolds was 2-for-3 from the plate with five RBI and two runs scored.

Chamber, Denton and Courtney Sutter each registered two hits for the Owls.

In Game Two, Kennesaw State went up 3-0 with one run in each of the first, second and third innings. A sacrifice fly in the first inning scored Chambers. Veringa scored in the second inning on a Carly Van Auken single to left center. The Owls took their three-run lead with Sutter driving in Dascoli with a double to left field.

UNF made it a 3-1 game in the fourth as Mandarano drew a bases loaded walk and Tewey cross home plate.

After Kerr led off the fifth inning with a double to left field, Reynolds sent a one-out, two-run homer to center field to tie the game up at 3-3.

However, an Osprey error in the sixth inning allowed Kennesaw State to break the tie with both Denton and Natalie Rhodes scoring on the miscue.

Kaylie Wallace pitched all 6.0 innings en route to receiving the loss. Wallace allowed two earned runs off nine hits and struck out two.

Henderson got her second win of the day, coming in relief for the final 2.2 innings. She did not allow any additional Osprey runs and held UNF to one hit. She also struck out four.

Tewey went 2-for-4 with one run scored.

Both Rhodes and Denton were 2-for-4 with one run scored for Kennesaw State.

The series concludes on Sunday with a single game at 1 p.m., at the Bailey Softball Complex.