The University of North Florida softball team started its season off with a bang, defeating SEC school Auburn in run-rule fashion last Thursday at the UNF Softball Complex.
UNF struck early and often, putting up four runs in the first inning. Six Ospreys reached base to start the game. The first three were courtesy of hits, one by Hallie Langford, who finished the game with three.
These hits set the Ospreys up nicely to drive in additional runs. Grace Shaw-Rockey poked a triple to right field, scoring two UNF runs. Then, UNF loaded the bases on an Auburn fielding error and a hit by pitch.
With all the bases taken, there was no room to put Shaw-Rockey, who scored on a Caiden Olivia walk. Capping off the baserunner parade, Kelsey Vogel hit a sacrifice fly to score UNF’s fourth run.
Auburn fought back in the third inning, plating two runs off sophomore pitcher Taylor Cook. After seeing its lead cut in half, head coach Jeff Conrad made a pitching change, replacing Cook with senior transfer Kate Peters.
Immediately after the change, Auburn singled in another run and loaded the bases on two walks. Staving off the threat, Peters pitched out of it, forcing a popout to retain the lead.
In the home half, UNF started the inning with three-straight singles. To start, Olivia launched a single up the middle, followed by two more from Georgia transfer Hannah Davila and Vogel.
Langford doubled up the Tigers and hit count on one swing, hitting a high chopper to third base, allowing her speed to beat out the throw. On the mound, Peters blanked Auburn for 2.1 innings.
Next inning, UNF passed the double-digit mark in runs, tallying five runs in another marathon offensive parade. Bella Cimino led it off with a double, spearheading another bases-loaded situation.
The Ospreys added three runs on a throwing error and a fielder’s choice. Shaw-Rockey finished off the inning and put Auburn in run-rule danger after swatting a two-run single towards the outfield gap.
Dating back to last season, UNF has now defeated Power Four teams in each of its last three wins, beginning with Virginia in the Columbia Regional.
River City Leadoff Recap
One day later, the Birds of Clay had their first two-game day, facing off against the University of Massachusetts twice. Methodically, UNF built its lead throughout the game. Langford recorded another multi-hit game while also driving in three runs.
Defensively, pitcher Macie Hunolt tossed a shutout, cementing North Florida’s second mercy rule in as many games. 30 minutes later, UNF continued its stellar pitching and offense, shutting out the Minutewomen once again.
Junior Cameron Ponich and Purdue transfer Kadyn Camper combined to throw a one-hitter in North Florida’s first seven-inning game so far this season. At the plate, UNF struck first with two runs in the first inning.
Transfer Addie Keef hit a ground ball to the Massachusetts pitcher that was wildly thrown, doubling up North Florida’s lead to four. This same inning, UNF scored its fifth run on another error.
One inning away from closing it out, Creighton transfer Jorydn Meyer drove home North Florida’s sixth run. Overall, during the Ospreys’ first three games, UNF outscored its opponents 25-3 with two run-rules.
However, the next day, the script was flipped. Playing against a third opponent, North Dakota State, the Ospreys struggled with runners on base. North Florida registered eight total hits but couldn’t drive home any runs.
During the game, the Ospreys left nine runners on base. In the fifth inning, Peters gave up a two-run home run and that was all the Bison needed. Despite losing its first game, UNF had a quick turnaround, giving it less time to dwell on the loss.
Battling its fourth opponent in three days, UNF softball shared the diamond with Colgate University. Slowly, UNF built its lead in four innings. As a team, eight different Ospreys posted hits, led by Cimino with two run-scoring knocks.
Hunolt and Camper combined for a three-hit shutout. Once again, UNF relied on errors, small ball and a deep, balanced roster to pull away from a third team. On Sunday, the final day of the ‘River City Leadoff,’ UNF finished off its opening week with its fourth shutout.
Exacting revenge on the Bison, UNF bounced back and shut out North Dakota State. Cook threw six clean innings, surrendering only two hits and walking none. Camper closed out the classic with a 1-2-3 frame.
Doubles by Cimino and Arizona State transfer Ayden Allen put UNF out in front 3-0 in the third inning. The Ospreys kept the pressure going, collecting single runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
In each of their first six games, UNF outscored opponents 40-5, showing how dominant they can be. UNF is currently 11th in the D1 Softball mid-major top 25.
The Ospreys’ non-conference home slate continues with a midweek tilt against Marshall on Wednesday. First pitch is at 6 p.m. at the UNF Softball Complex.
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