The University of North Florida Softball team had its Senior Night game on Saturday as they went up against the West Georgia Wolves.

The event honors seniors and graduate students on the team who can’t continue playing with the team. The graduating seniors were all called out before the start of the game, each walking out with loved ones. 

Senior Infielder Taylor Shepard, a four-year member of the Ospreys, walked out with her mom, dad, brother and sister. Senior infielder Kelsey Vogel, another four-year member of the Ospreys, walked out with her mom, dad, brothers, grandparents and boyfriend.

Shepard and Vogel are long-time friends, growing up together and playing softball with each other throughout their lives. They now live in a house together in Jacksonville.

Both Shepard and Vogel spoke on the impact that their parents had on their careers.

“Ever since I started playing softball, my parents have been very supportive, and they’ve put so much time into me and the sport,” said Shepard. “They’re always there when I need to talk about something.”

“None of this would be possible without their sacrifices,” said Vogel.

Mercer transfer Hallie Langford, the lone graduate student on the team, walked out with her mom and dad. Langford also commented on the support she has received from her parents.

“Just knowing that they’re always going to be there and supporting me has meant a lot,” said Langford.

Arizona State transfer Ayden Allen, who walked out alongside her mom, dad and brother, shared a similar sentiment to Langford.

“I think my parents have maybe missed one game, and I’m like 15 {or} 14 hours away from home, so they’re a big support system for me,” said Allen. “It’s a long journey, and I don’t think I’d be here without them.”

Senior outfielder Marley Nagy and Troy transfer Kate Peters each were seen with their own families. Senior outfielder Amanda Aardema was followed by her boyfriend. Aardema’s parents weren’t able to come to the ceremony due to a schedule change.

Looking back on their careers

The UNF softball seniors reflected on the past season and their careers prior to Senior Night.

The seniors each have varying levels of history playing with the Ospreys, with three of the current seniors having transferred to UNF after last season.

Each of the seniors described how their relationship with the team has evolved since joining.

“I would just say I’ve made a lot more relationships with admin, coaches, and the team. I think…it definitely felt like a family, and everybody felt like friends when I came for my visit, so it definitely was a family, and I just think we’ve all bought into that in the last four years and it’s truly just been the best four years ever,” said Vogel.

Vogel and Shepard have both been on the team all four years of their collegiate career and described how their relationship has changed since coming to UNF.

“We have grown up together since we were in diapers, so I mean, especially since we live together now in college, being away from home, I think it’s only helped our relationship,” said Shepard. “She’s more like a sister to me.”

Peters described her relationship with the coaches and said that she’s closest with Coach Amber Fiser, an assistant coach for the Ospreys.

“I would say I’m closest with coach {Fiser} just because I work with her every day. She’s my pitching coach, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to learn from her this year.”

A shared sentiment among the seniors is not to let past successes affect their performance this season.

Vogel had been named the 2025 UNF Female Breakthrough Athlete of the Year prior to this season and expressed that this achievement did not affect her mental state going into this season.

“I just kinda came into the season being like ‘this is the last ride, just put it all out there,’” said Vogel.

Similarly, Peters described how the Ospreys’ victory in the 2025 ASUN Championship did not make her feel like the team had to repeat that accomplishment this season.

“I think there’s a pressure there, but I think it’s more of a pressure that we should have the talent to do it again, more than that we have to do it again because this team is really built to be talented and built to be good teammates.”

Peters is ranked with the second-best pitching performance on the team this season based on stats, with a 2.34 earned run average and 55 strikeouts. Peters explained her process for keeping up that level of play all season.

“I think it just starts with the bullpens during the week, working on the stuff that I wasn’t successful with the weekend before. I’ve had the mentality going into this year that this is the last ride I have, I might as well make it the best year I’ve had.”

Another strong performer on the team is Langford, who has a .355 batting average, the second-highest batting average on the team, as well as the most runs on the team. She is tied for the most hits on the team with Chattanooga State transfer Addie Keef.

Langford also laid out how she maintained her performance this season. “I’m a sixth year, so I’ve had a lot of experience and just building on what I did last year and just trying to get a little bit better every day, putting in some extra work and things like that.”

Langford further described how her perspective of college softball has all changed over time, with her being the only sixth-year player on the team.

“I think that I’m just a different person than I was when I first came in,” said Langford. “I’ve had many ups and downs, went through a lot of adversity over my six years,…so just learning that when there are downs, or you’re going through something, that it’s more of an opportunity and every day is an opportunity and to never take a day off.”

Another senior who had described overcoming adversity is Aardema, who suffered a stress fracture in her foot earlier in the year. Her injury led to her appearing in fewer games this season.

“I was in a boot for about a month and then once I got cleared, I kinda just jumped right back into things,” said Aardema.

Aardema explained how the team supported her in overcoming that injury.

“Everyone from top to bottom, when I was going through that, had asked me if I needed anything, and he was always there,” said Aardema. “Nothing short of just positive and supportive.”

The Ospreys won their Senior Night game 8-1, taking victory in their series against the Wolves.

The Ospreys will be traveling across Jacksonville to face off against the Jacksonville University Dolphins on Thursday in their final series before the ASUN tournament. 

First pitch is at 7 p.m. at the Debbie & Fred Pruitt Softball Complex.

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