Sports News:JAX SPORTS NEWS: UNF softball drops DH at home to Troy
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The University of North Florida softball team dropped two tough losses to the Troy Trojans in UNF’s home debut losing the first game 6-4 and the second in extra innings 3-1.
Senior Devyn Findley hit a home run in the first inning of the first game towards left center that was almost shot down by the howling winds which were present for most of the day.
Through out the game both pitchers, who are both career leaders in strikeouts for their designated schools, were throwing strong pitches and getting tremendous help from their defenses. Troy’s All-Region pitcher Ashlyn Williams finished the first game with 15 strikeouts and allowed only four hits.
In the top of the fifth after the Ospreys (1-6-0) allowed three unearned runs to come in and score, however, the Ospreys showed their resilience tying the score back at four apiece in the bottom half of the inning.
“I was really impressed how we showed our ability to battle back and come from behind,” said head coach Marcie Hickey.
In the bottom of the inning junior Caroline Torre had a two-run blast that brought the score with in one (4-3). The next batter, Findley hit a looping liner over the second baseman’s head allowing freshman pinch runner Stephanie McAdams to round the bases in for the tying run.
UNF would then give up the lead in the next inning and not be able to score again with Williams registering four strikeouts in the final two innings to cut UNF’s chances of coming back.
In the second matchup the Ospreys and the Trojans would be involved with another close battle taking the game into extra innings. Dent starting off the game for North Florida going seven innings and only giving up one run until Troy’s eighth inning rally.
After 2 1/3 innings pitched the Trojans went back to their ace pitcher Williams after the Ospreys started to pressure their freshman pitcher Sally Ward.
The Ospreys had the opportunities to put runs on the board stranding at least one runner through the first five innings. UNF overall had eight runners left on base through out the game and would not be able to score another run after McAdams’ aggressive baserunning that took advantage of the Trojans fielding error for a run in the fifth inning.
The Ospreys are scheduled to face the Trojans this weekend at the UCF tournament in Orlando, Fla. On Feb. 19 the Ospreys will play the first of two night cap games, the first against Troy at 6 p.m. and the second against tournament host UCF at 8 p.m.
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