Jacksonville, Fla. ? The Stetson softball team fell to 20-25 overall and 3-11 in the Atlantic Sun Conference after being swept in an A-Sun doubleheader at North Florida (25-24, 11-9 A-Sun) on Wednesday. The Hatters have now lost 11 consecutive games. Junior center fielder Amy Joyce (Lake Mary, Fla.) had a base hit in both ballgames and junior designated player Katie Lawrence (Hilliard, Fla.) went two for three with two RBI in the nightcap.
Lawrence collected a two-run single in the top of the second inning in Game 2 that put the Hatters ahead 2-0. The hit, which scored Joyce and freshman pinch runner Jillian Masucci (Port Orange, Fla.) snapped a 45+ inning consecutive shutout streak in conference play.
Stetson took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth and appeared to be on its way to a much-needed victory when senior pitcher Erica Demers (Miami, Fla.) retired the first two batters of the inning. It was not to be, however, as two walks and a single set the stage for Lady Osprey second baseman Allyson Bailey to drive a two-run single through the right side of the infield and put UNF ahead for good 3-2. Shaina Dent earned the win for the Lady Ospreys.
UNF bested the Hatters 1-0 in 10 innings in the opener. Even the international tiebreaker rule in the 10th inning was not enough for Stetson to plate a run, as the Hatters stranded 11 baserunners in the contest and lost when UNF center fielder Ariana Godwin singled with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th. Junior pitcher Amanda Lindsey (Byhalia, Miss.) gave up just the one unearned run in nine and a third innings, scattering six hits, walking four and fanning seven. Lefthander Devyn Findley allowed four hits and six walks with 13 strikeouts in her shutout victory.
Stetson is off until Tuesday, April 21 when it travels down to Fort Myers to face the powerful offense of 19th-ranked league rival Florida Gulf Coast in a doubleheader. Jamie Bataille will call the action on Hatter Vision at the official online home of Stetson Athletics, www.GoHatters.com. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. from the FGCU Softball Complex.
