Saturday, February 9
Tallahassee, Fla.
10 a.m.
University of North Florida
vs
Bethune-Cookman
Softball Opens 2013 Season With Panhandle Invitational
2/8/2013 2:15:00 PM | Softball
Panhandle Invitational Central
Weekly Notes
TALLHASSEE, Fla. – University of North Florida softball opens its 2013 campaign with four games at the Panhandle Invitational that is hosted by No. 25/24 Florida State. The Ospreys face Bethune-Cookman and Florida State on Saturday and then Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman on Sunday at JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex.
“We are excited for this weekend to finally be here and to start our season,” said head coach Marcie Hickey. “We face three tough teams, including two that reached the NCAA Tournament last year and one that advanced to its conference championship. This should be a great weekend that will test us.”
UNF has never opened the season in Tallahassee and has not played in an early-season tournament that was hosted by Florida State since the 2006 FSU Invitational held Mar. 10-12. During that tournament, UNF went 2-3, but did not play the Seminoles.
The 2013 Osprey team is mixed with veterans and newcomers. UNF returns 13 players from last year's team that posted 27 wins and put together a nine-game winning streak in the middle of the season. The Ospreys' nine-straight victories in 2012 were UNF's longest winning streak since a 14-game streak in 2005 in UNF's final year as a Division II institution. Among the returners are senior catch Jackie Reese, who has started in over 150 games in her career, and sophomore pitcher Kaylie Wallce, who was named to the 2012 Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team and is listed among the conference's top returning pitchers. Meanwhile, the Ospreys also welcome six newcomers, including transfers Ashley Holton and Abby Tewey.
For the second-straight season, UNF faces Bethune-Cookman on opening day. The Lady Wildcats won its third-straight MEAC Championship last spring and earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament. However, Bethune-Cookman was just 1-3 against the Ospreys in 2012 and 0-2 during opening weekend last year. Among the Lady Wildcats' key returners is top hitter Michelle Banuelos-Smith, who was .350 from the plate last year.
UNF leads the all-time series 9-4. Most recently, the Ospreys and Bethune-Cookman split a doubleheader in Daytona Beach on Apr. 11, 2012. UNF squeaked out a 3-2 win in nine innings during the first game, but Bethune-Cookman came back for a 9-1 five-inning win in Game Two. UNF and Bethune-Cookman also meet later on in 2013 when the Ospreys host the Lady Wildcats on Apr. 10 for a single game.
Florida State enters the 2013 season ranked No. 25 in the USA Today/NFCA poll and No. 24 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll. This weekend's tournament is the first of three that Florida State hosts during the early season. The Seminoles return 15 players from last year's team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament, including all four of their 2012 All-ACC selections – Tiffani Brown, Monica Perry, Briana Hamilton and Lacey Waldrop.
Florida State holds a 7-1 advantage in the all-time series with UNF and has won the last four games. This is the only time in 2013 that the two teams will meet.
It is also the second-straight year UNF takes on Florida A&M during opening weekend. Last year, the Ospreys and Lady Rattlers met on the second day of the Dot Richardson Collegiate Softball Invitational. Mariah Reynolds blasted a grand slam that helped lift the Ospreys to a 12-8 win. UNF and Florida A&M then met four days later for a mid-week doubleheader in Tallahassee. The teams split with Florida A&M taking the first game 2-1 and UNF winning the second 8-2.
Florida A&M begins the 2013 season on Friday night with a cross-town matchup against Florida State that kicks off the Panhandle Invitational. The Lady Rattlers come off a 2012 season that saw them advance to the MEAC Championship game against Bethune-Cookman. Among those returning for the Lady Rattlers is Jennifer Lindsey, who was named to the 2012 MEAC All-Tournament Team.
UNF leads the all-time series 14-7 and this is the only time the two teams meet this season.
First pitch to UNF's 2013 season is set for 10 a.m., on Saturday. For more information about the Panhandle Invitational, click on the above Tournament Central link.
Weekly Notes
TALLHASSEE, Fla. – University of North Florida softball opens its 2013 campaign with four games at the Panhandle Invitational that is hosted by No. 25/24 Florida State. The Ospreys face Bethune-Cookman and Florida State on Saturday and then Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman on Sunday at JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex.
“We are excited for this weekend to finally be here and to start our season,” said head coach Marcie Hickey. “We face three tough teams, including two that reached the NCAA Tournament last year and one that advanced to its conference championship. This should be a great weekend that will test us.”
UNF has never opened the season in Tallahassee and has not played in an early-season tournament that was hosted by Florida State since the 2006 FSU Invitational held Mar. 10-12. During that tournament, UNF went 2-3, but did not play the Seminoles.
The 2013 Osprey team is mixed with veterans and newcomers. UNF returns 13 players from last year's team that posted 27 wins and put together a nine-game winning streak in the middle of the season. The Ospreys' nine-straight victories in 2012 were UNF's longest winning streak since a 14-game streak in 2005 in UNF's final year as a Division II institution. Among the returners are senior catch Jackie Reese, who has started in over 150 games in her career, and sophomore pitcher Kaylie Wallce, who was named to the 2012 Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team and is listed among the conference's top returning pitchers. Meanwhile, the Ospreys also welcome six newcomers, including transfers Ashley Holton and Abby Tewey.
For the second-straight season, UNF faces Bethune-Cookman on opening day. The Lady Wildcats won its third-straight MEAC Championship last spring and earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament. However, Bethune-Cookman was just 1-3 against the Ospreys in 2012 and 0-2 during opening weekend last year. Among the Lady Wildcats' key returners is top hitter Michelle Banuelos-Smith, who was .350 from the plate last year.
UNF leads the all-time series 9-4. Most recently, the Ospreys and Bethune-Cookman split a doubleheader in Daytona Beach on Apr. 11, 2012. UNF squeaked out a 3-2 win in nine innings during the first game, but Bethune-Cookman came back for a 9-1 five-inning win in Game Two. UNF and Bethune-Cookman also meet later on in 2013 when the Ospreys host the Lady Wildcats on Apr. 10 for a single game.
Florida State enters the 2013 season ranked No. 25 in the USA Today/NFCA poll and No. 24 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll. This weekend's tournament is the first of three that Florida State hosts during the early season. The Seminoles return 15 players from last year's team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament, including all four of their 2012 All-ACC selections – Tiffani Brown, Monica Perry, Briana Hamilton and Lacey Waldrop.
Florida State holds a 7-1 advantage in the all-time series with UNF and has won the last four games. This is the only time in 2013 that the two teams will meet.
It is also the second-straight year UNF takes on Florida A&M during opening weekend. Last year, the Ospreys and Lady Rattlers met on the second day of the Dot Richardson Collegiate Softball Invitational. Mariah Reynolds blasted a grand slam that helped lift the Ospreys to a 12-8 win. UNF and Florida A&M then met four days later for a mid-week doubleheader in Tallahassee. The teams split with Florida A&M taking the first game 2-1 and UNF winning the second 8-2.
Florida A&M begins the 2013 season on Friday night with a cross-town matchup against Florida State that kicks off the Panhandle Invitational. The Lady Rattlers come off a 2012 season that saw them advance to the MEAC Championship game against Bethune-Cookman. Among those returning for the Lady Rattlers is Jennifer Lindsey, who was named to the 2012 MEAC All-Tournament Team.
UNF leads the all-time series 14-7 and this is the only time the two teams meet this season.
First pitch to UNF's 2013 season is set for 10 a.m., on Saturday. For more information about the Panhandle Invitational, click on the above Tournament Central link.
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