Ospreys Prepare for No. 5 Gators

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Ospreys will have their second opportunity this season to play a ranked opponent when the University of North Florida softball team plays the No. 5 (ESPN.com/USA Softball Division I) Florida Gators in a doubleheader on Wednesday, May 5 at 4 p.m. in Gainesville, Fla.

UNF (23-25, 9-7 A-Sun) currently sits fourth in the Atlantic Sun Conference standings after having almost two full weeks off. The Ospreys' last game came against Bethune-Cookman on April 22 in a tough 6-3 loss.

The Ospreys' junior first baseman Caroline Torre continues to lead the pack with a .306 batting average, 25 RBI and a .366 on-base percentage.

Ranked 23 in the nation in fielding percentage (.971) the Ospreys continue to win games with their pitching and defense.

Senior Devyn Findley is ranked 22nd in the nation in strikeouts and 25th in saves. In the Atlantic Sun Conference she is first in appearances (43), fourth in strikeouts (237) and wins (17), and eighth in ERA (2.06).

Defensively, UNF is tied for first in the conference in runners thrown-out stealing with freshman Jackie Reese tallying 13 from behind the plate and being one of the top backstops in the conference only allowing three passed balls on the season. In addition, Findley is third in the conference with 13 runners caught on the base paths.

Earlier this season, North Florida played a ranked team, facing No.16 (ESPN.com) Ohio State at the USF "The Game" Tournament in March. In the game, senior Devyn Findley helped lead the Ospreys to the 1-0 win with a complete game shutout and whiffing nine Buckeyes.

The Ospreys were 2-3 last season against ranked opponents. They lost a game to No. 11 ranked Tennessee in the UCF Tournament but later split games between No. 18 Florida Gulf Coast and No. 22 Florida State at home.

Last Saturday, the University of Florida (37-7, 17-4 SEC) swept Mississippi State 8-0 and 9-1 with junior Stephanie Brombacher earning her 25th win of the season and garnering the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Pitcher of the Week. The right-hander pitched her seventh shutout of the season, allowing three hits, two walks and tallied four K's.

Freshman pitcher Ensley Gammel recorded the win in game two, allowing two hits and recording nine strikeouts. UF's pitching staff has combined for a 2.20 ERA on the season.

Offensively the gators have used the long ball as a their weapon of choice, after tallying three home runs on Saturday, UF brought its team's total in home runs to 81 on the season, five away from the SEC record. Leading the Gators in round-trippers are Francesca Enea (17), Brittany Schutte (13) and Megan Bush (12).

Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville, Fla.) has recorded a hit in 19 of the last 22 games extending her hitting streak to nine. Currently, she is on top for the Gators in batting average at .416. Moultrie is one of six Gators to have a batting average over .300.

Along with the team's .429 OBP, they have swiped a total of 63 bases on the season. Leading the team is infielder Aja Paculba with 12 stolen bases. Centerfielder Moultrie is second on the list with 10.

Since moving to Division I (2006-06) UNF is 0-3 against the Gators.

Both games will be streamed live online audibly and live stats will be available.

Game 1

Game 2

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