Softball Heads to Orlando to Battle UCF

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The North Florida softball team returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 16, for a single game against UCF in Orlando, Fla. at the UCF Softball Complex. The game is slated for a 6 p.m. start with 2010 Conference USA Football Coach of the Year George O'Leary set to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

The Ospreys enter the game with a 0-5 record after competing against a tough field – four nationally-ranked teams – at the Combat Classic hosted by Florida International last weekend. Of the five opponents that downed North Florida last week, four – Ohio State, Florida International, Kentucky, DePaul – competed in the NCAA Tournament last season.

North Florida will face another 2010 NCAA Tournament participant in a UCF squad that is 1-3 on the year with its lone victory coming over Utah State by a score of 9-6.

In the all-time series between the two schools, UCF holds a 6-2 advantage and has claimed the previous two games. The Knights last defeated the Ospreys, 5-3, in Jacksonville on Feb. 24, 2010, while the Ospreys last win was in Orlando on Feb. 11, 2009 by a score of 7-5.

The Knights are currently batting .284 as a team, led by Allie Jest and Natalie Land who boast batting averages of .600 and .500 through the team's first three games. Jest had six hits last weekend with one double and triple, while Land also tallied a double on five hits.

North Florida was paced in its opening weekend by junior Alyson Bailey who holds a .231 average with two doubles. Fellow classmate Kelly Dill also had a solid opener over the weekend and comes into the UCF game as the holder of a home run and batting .167.

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