Feb. 10, 2008
BOCA RATON, Fla. – After South Carolina tied up the game with two runs in the seventh, the Ospreys of North Florida came back with a run in the eighth to down the Gamecocks, 3-2, on the final day of the Florida Atlantic Kick-Off Classic at the FAU Softball Stadium. USC fell to 1-4 with the loss, while UNF improved to 2-3.
With the international tiebreaker rule in effect to start the eighth, North Florida had Gwen Williams sacrifice runner Heather Hyde to third. Pitcher Devyn Findlay followed and lined a double to left center to plate the go-ahead run. Findlay would move to third on a wild pitch, but the Ospreys could not bring her in to add to the lead.
Carolina took the same approach in its half of the eighth, as Lisa Longo moved Whitney Wierzbicki to third with her bunt. But Carolina could not capitalize, as a strikeout and a groundout ended the contest.
The Gamecocks, who were no hit through 6 1/3 innings by Findlay, got started on the comeback trail by freshman Laura Mendes, who doubled with one down. A pop out followed before senior Becky Martinez got a two-out walk to put the tying run on base. Pinch-hitter Cagney Davis hit a sharp grounder to third that Hyde mishandled to load the bases. Jacqueline Wetherbee stepped up to pinch hit and smacked a single to center that tied up the contest at 2-2.
North Florida plated runs in the third and fourth to get out to the 2-0 lead. After Caroline Torre reached first on a hit-by-pitch, Lauren Pulling sacrificed her to second. A wild pitch moved Pulling to third, when Kacie McCloud came through with a single to plate Torre. The next inning, Williams singled with one down and moved to second on a wild pitch. After a strikeout, Williams again advanced on a wild pitch, where Ashley Battaglia would make USC pay. Her single up the middle scored Williams to make it a 2-0 game.
Findlay ended the contest giving up two runs, both unearned, on two hits and three walks while striking out nine. Redshirt freshman Krystle Robinson got the loss, going the distance while giving up five hits and three runs, two earned. Robinson walked five and struck out five.
South Carolina starts its home schedule on Wed., Feb. 15 with a 4 p.m. single game against Western Carolina at Beckham Field.
