Ospreys Rev-up for Wildcats

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida softball team will play a single-game against Bethune-Cookman, Thursday, April 22, in Daytona Beach, Fla. at 4 p.m.

The Ospreys (23-24, 9-7 A-Sun) sit in fourth place in the Atlantic Sun Conference standings behind Stetson (26-19, 8-6 A-Sun), Kennesaw State (24-10, 9-5 A-Sun) and Lipscomb (38-10, 14-2 A-Sun), who recently clinched their spot in the A-Sun tournament come May 13th in DeLand, Fla.

The Ospreys will have a little break from playing any conference games as they will play Bethune-Cookman this week and then No. 4 Florida (NFCA Division I Top 25) on May 5.

Last weekend, North Florida's offense struggled getting swept by conference foe Campbell. In both games, the Ospreys only scored one run as a result of their .215 team batting average, which is tied for last in the conference.

Junior Caroline Torre continues to be UNF's most consistent player hitting third in the lineup for the majority of the season. While batting from the left-side, Torre has surmounted a .313 batting average, team leading 24 RBI, slugging percentage of .417 and an on-base percentage of .369.

After the Ospreys lost their best offensive threat from last season, UNF has needed someone to fill her spot in the lineup. Torre hit .173 last season with only four RBI, but this season has filled their void stepping up with big hit after big hit.

For UNF to capture a seed into the A-Sun tournament and bring home a title to Jacksonville, Torre will need some help from the rest of the team.

North Florida's pitching staff has teamed up to maintain a 2.43 combined ERA. Senior Devyn Findley (17-13) has been stuck at 17 wins since April 10, when she defeated East Tennessee State. Findley will look to this week's game to record win number 18 and her 67th win in her career with the Navy Blue and Grey.

Bethune-Cookman (22-20) have two hitters hitting above .300 with Allison Garcia (.384 BA) and Cesley Tafoya (.326). Garcia leads the Wildcats with 48 hits, seven home runs, 34 RBI, .584 slugging percentage and a .440 OBP.

With a .390 on-base percentage, Ashton Hinds has been a menace on the base paths this season for Bethune-Cookman with 14 stolen bases.

The Wildcats have two pitchers that make up their staff with Garcia (16-12) and Chastity Sanders (6-8). Garcia has maintained a 2.30 ERA, tossing 20 complete games along with registering 129 K's.

Next Event

Footer