FLORENCE
-- Junior right fielder Jeffery Ritter
homered twice and drove in eight runs to
lead the University of North Alabama to a
double-header sweep of Harding, 11-1 and
10-7.
The sweep at
UNA's University Field improves the Lions'
record to 11-3 overall, while Harding drops
to 11- 7.
Ritter led a
15-hit UNA attack in the opener, going
three-for-five with three runs batted in.
Ross Parker and Matt Horton also had three
hits as UNA ended what was scheduled to be a
nine-inning game in the eighth with a 10-run
lead. n the nightcap, Ritter hit two homers
and drove in five runs to push his season
totals to five home runs and 30 runs batted
in. His performance overshadowed a four-home
run performance by Harding that came up
short in the 10-7 UNA win. Ritter is now
batting .528 for the season.
UNA jumped out
to a 3-0 lead in the third inning of the
opener and added three more in the fourth
and two in the fifth for an 8-0 lead.
Branden Tepe, meanwhile, was perfect on the
mound through four innings, retiring the
first 12 batters he faced. He finally gave
up a hit in the fifth and a run in the
seventh before leaving the game.
He pitched 6
1/3 innings, allowing four hits and one run
with seven strikeouts as he improved to 3-0.
Matt Vandenheuvel pitched the final inning
and a third, retiring all five batters that
he faced. UNA added three runs in the eighth
and the game ws called when Ritter's single
drove in Matt Horton to make it 11-1.
In the second
game, Harding scored a run in the first and
added another in the second for a 2-0 lead.
UNA tied the game in the bottom of the
second but Harding went back on top 3-2 in
the third. A four-run UNA rally but the
Lions on top for good in the bottom of the
third. UNA starter Randall Shrouder lasted
just one inning before Ryan Miller came on
in relief. Miller pitched four innings to
get his second win of the year, scattering
four runs on five hits with five strikeouts.
Vandenheuvel pitched the final two innings.
The Lions
out-hit Harding 11-8 in the game.
North Alabama
and Harding will meet again Sunday in a
single game at 1 p.m.
Printable Game
Statistics - Game 13 - Harding
Printable Game
Statistics - Game 14 - Harding
