SAVANNAH, Ga. – The University of North
Florida softball team opened the 2006 campaign in winning
fashion, sweeping a doubleheader from Armstrong Atlantic State
9-2 and 10-2 on Thursday afternoon at UNF Softball Complex.The wins marked the beginning of the Division I era for the Lady Osprey softball program.
Juniors Amy Higgs and Kelli Rutenbar led the UNF offensive attack, with Higgs collecting five hits in the two games and driving home five runs. Rutenbar was 4-for-6 in the doubleheader, driving home four runs.
After a scoreless first inning in game one, UNF (2-0) got on the board in the second with Higgs single that scored Caitlin Miller. An Ashley Parenteau single later in the inning scored Gwen Williams from third to increase UNF's lead to 2-0.
After the Pirates (0-2) scored a run in the top of the third, the Lady Ospreys struck again in the bottom half of the inning on a Williams walk with the bases loaded. Walks haunted AASU's Rachel Koenig-Eng all game, as the starter gave up seven runs (five earned) on seven hits and five walks in just four innings.
Armstrong Atlantic State would cut into the Lady Osprey lead to one in the top of the fourth, but UNF would strike again in the bottom half of the inning. Higgs scored the first run of the inning on a single by Rutenbar, increasing UNF's lead to 4-2. Rutenbar would later score when Randalyn Rogers reached on an error, putting the Lady Ospreys ahead 5-2 and giving UNF more run support than they would need.
UNF would score four more in the fifth on the way to the win. Tori Ahern (1-0) earned the victory for UNF, with Koenig-Eng (0-1) taking the loss for the Pirates.
"We had spent a lot of time in the off-season and pre-season filming the team hitting," UNF Head Coach Sonya Wilmoth said. "I think it helped greatly and allowed the players to understand what they were doing wrong. I can't ask any more from our offense after what they did today."
The Lady Ospreys got on the board quickly in game two, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. UNF loaded the bases before the Pirates were able to get the first out of the inning. After a Rogers walk to score the first run, Miller singled, scoring Rutenbar and Christina Evans.
UNF struck twice again in the second to take a 5-0 lead, before AASU managed two runs in the top of the third, on a Kacey Morrison RBI double and a Deanna Beaty sacrifice fly, making the score 5-2. The Lady Ospreys scored two more runs in the bottom half of the inning, taking a 7-2 lead on a Higgs RBI double.
The Lady Ospreys finished their offensive onslaught in the bottom of the fourth with three more runs.
"I believe that these games today will be a springboard into our games this weekend and hopefully the rest of the season," Wilmoth said. "The girls are seeing the ball really well right now."
UNF will return to action on Saturday at Troy with the first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. to be followed by a game with Alabama A&M at 3 p.m.