Friday, March 1
Jacksonville, Fla.
3 p.m.
University of North Florida
vs
Princeton
Softball Hosts Three-Day Osprey Invitational
2/28/2013 5:00:00 PM | Softball
Osprey Invitational Central
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – University of North Florida softball's final early-season tournament takes place this weekend at the UNF Softball Complex when UNF hosts the three-day Osprey Invitational. UNF welcomes Delaware State, Princeton and St. Bonaventure to its field for the tournament.
“This is always a great weekend filled with tough competition,” said head coach Marcie Hickey. “All four teams that take the field this weekend have various strengths. For us, we are coming into this tournament very strong. Our bats are coming alive and our pitching and defense has been consistent. We are coming together as a group and this should be another fun weekend.”
UNF is off to one of its best starts in recent years with a 14-4 record. The Ospreys have posted winning records in each of their first three early season tournaments. UNF brings a six-game winning streak and a string of five-straight shutouts into the weekend.
UNF comes off a doubleheader sweep of Mount St. Mary's in a Wednesday doubleheader at the UNF Softball Complex where both of the Ospreys' wins were in five innings. UNF registered 11 hits in the first game, including a three-run double from Jackie Reese, a two-run double from Ashley Holton and a two-run homer from Mariah Reynolds. In Game Two, the Ospreys got three runs across the plate in the fifth inning in order to notch its second-straight run-rule victory.
Pitching and defensive plays have been huge for UNF during its shutout streak. Pitchers Cortney Radke, Kayla Goff and Kaylie Wallace have combined to pitched 34.2 scoreless innings and have only allowed eight hits – all of which have been singles. Additionally, the defense has been solid by not committing any errors during this stretch.
Princeton opens the 2013 season at the Osprey Invitational and under the direction of first-year head coach Lisa Sweeney. The Tigers return 14 from last year's team that went 14-32. Princeton has yet to play in an Osprey Invitational and this is the first time UNF and Princeton will play each other.
Delaware State started the season by going 0-3 at last weekend's Norfolk State Invitational. Both Jessica Madrid and Kelsey Doherty were 3-for-7 from the plate as Janice Savage, who was a two-year assistant coach under Hickey at UNF, made her interim head coaching debut. The Hornets have participated in all Osprey Invitationals, including both tournaments last year, and are 7-5 all-time at the event.
The all-time series between UNF and Delaware State is tied at 3-3.
St. Bonaventure plays in its second early-season tournament to be hosted by an Atlantic Sun school. The Bonnies come off an 0-5 showing at the FGCU/La Quinta Inn & Suites Spring Break Invitational where they faced Florida Gulf Coast, Michigan State, Minnesota and Villanova. St. Bonaventure attempts to bounce-back from its five-game skid and pick up their first win since defeating Cleveland State 7-2 on Feb. 17 at the Cleveland State Vikings Indoor Tournament.
This is the Bonnies' second appearance at an Osprey Invitational. St. Bonaventure went 2-2 at last year's first Osprey Invitational.
The Bonnies also hold a 1-0 advantage in the all-time series after holding UNF off for a 4-3 win on Mar. 3, 2012.
The Osprey Invitational begins on Friday with St. Bonaventure vs. Princeton at 10 a.m., followed by St. Bonaventure vs. Delaware State. UNF takes the field with the day's last two games, taking on Princeton at 3 p.m., and Delaware State at 5:30 p.m. For a complete schedule and updated results throughout the tournament, click here.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – University of North Florida softball's final early-season tournament takes place this weekend at the UNF Softball Complex when UNF hosts the three-day Osprey Invitational. UNF welcomes Delaware State, Princeton and St. Bonaventure to its field for the tournament.
“This is always a great weekend filled with tough competition,” said head coach Marcie Hickey. “All four teams that take the field this weekend have various strengths. For us, we are coming into this tournament very strong. Our bats are coming alive and our pitching and defense has been consistent. We are coming together as a group and this should be another fun weekend.”
UNF is off to one of its best starts in recent years with a 14-4 record. The Ospreys have posted winning records in each of their first three early season tournaments. UNF brings a six-game winning streak and a string of five-straight shutouts into the weekend.
UNF comes off a doubleheader sweep of Mount St. Mary's in a Wednesday doubleheader at the UNF Softball Complex where both of the Ospreys' wins were in five innings. UNF registered 11 hits in the first game, including a three-run double from Jackie Reese, a two-run double from Ashley Holton and a two-run homer from Mariah Reynolds. In Game Two, the Ospreys got three runs across the plate in the fifth inning in order to notch its second-straight run-rule victory.
Pitching and defensive plays have been huge for UNF during its shutout streak. Pitchers Cortney Radke, Kayla Goff and Kaylie Wallace have combined to pitched 34.2 scoreless innings and have only allowed eight hits – all of which have been singles. Additionally, the defense has been solid by not committing any errors during this stretch.
Princeton opens the 2013 season at the Osprey Invitational and under the direction of first-year head coach Lisa Sweeney. The Tigers return 14 from last year's team that went 14-32. Princeton has yet to play in an Osprey Invitational and this is the first time UNF and Princeton will play each other.
Delaware State started the season by going 0-3 at last weekend's Norfolk State Invitational. Both Jessica Madrid and Kelsey Doherty were 3-for-7 from the plate as Janice Savage, who was a two-year assistant coach under Hickey at UNF, made her interim head coaching debut. The Hornets have participated in all Osprey Invitationals, including both tournaments last year, and are 7-5 all-time at the event.
The all-time series between UNF and Delaware State is tied at 3-3.
St. Bonaventure plays in its second early-season tournament to be hosted by an Atlantic Sun school. The Bonnies come off an 0-5 showing at the FGCU/La Quinta Inn & Suites Spring Break Invitational where they faced Florida Gulf Coast, Michigan State, Minnesota and Villanova. St. Bonaventure attempts to bounce-back from its five-game skid and pick up their first win since defeating Cleveland State 7-2 on Feb. 17 at the Cleveland State Vikings Indoor Tournament.
This is the Bonnies' second appearance at an Osprey Invitational. St. Bonaventure went 2-2 at last year's first Osprey Invitational.
The Bonnies also hold a 1-0 advantage in the all-time series after holding UNF off for a 4-3 win on Mar. 3, 2012.
The Osprey Invitational begins on Friday with St. Bonaventure vs. Princeton at 10 a.m., followed by St. Bonaventure vs. Delaware State. UNF takes the field with the day's last two games, taking on Princeton at 3 p.m., and Delaware State at 5:30 p.m. For a complete schedule and updated results throughout the tournament, click here.
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