JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The North Florida Softball team were shut out 4-0 in game one, before falling in a 16-15 slugfest in game two of an Atlantic Sun Conference doubleheader at crosstown rival JU Saturday.
Game 1: Jacksonville 4, North Florida 0
Jacksonville opened up the game early in the bottom of the first, scoring a run on an RBI double to lead 1-0.
The Dolphins then pushed the lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run home run over the left field wall.
The Ospreys were stifled by Dolphins pitcher Victoria Brown, with seniors
Katie Mandigo and
Shelby Duncan notching the only hits for North Florida.
Game 2: Jacksonville 16, North Florida 15
In a slugfest of a second game, The Ospreys and Dolphins totaled 31 runs and 34 hits, with North Florida tallying a school-record 19, breaking the previous record of 18 from 2008.
The Ospreys struck first in the top of the first, with freshman
Jenna Brownell scoring senior
Stacy McClelland on a sacrifice fly to make the score 1-0. In the top of the second, freshman
Minnie Cocuzza scored junior
Ashia Kerr on a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
Jacksonville responded with a huge inning in the bottom of the second, putting up nine runs on 6 hits to take a 9-2 lead.
North Florida did not go quietly though as the Ospreys cut the lead to 9-4 in the top of the third when McClelland hit a two-run home run, her first of the season. Sophomore
Ashley Niesman then scored on a wild pitch to make the score 9-5.
The Ospreys mounted the comeback in the top of the fourth, scoring six runs on seven hits to take a 11-9 lead. Duncan started the rally, scoring Cocuzza on a RBI fielder's choice, followed by a two-RBI double by McClelland. Niesman and Kerr kept the rally going with RBI singles, before junior
Jen Valle ended the rally with a RBI single.
North Florida pushed the lead to 12-9 in the top of the fifth, with McClelland scoring Mandigo on a RBI single.
Jacksonville cut the lead to 12-11 in the bottom of the fifth, before scoring four runs on a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth to take back the lead at 15-12.
The Ospreys mounted their second comeback of the day in the top of the seventh, Duncan started off the inning with a single, followed by McClelland reaching on an error, Brownell then scored Duncan on a RBI single to make the score 15-13. Kerr then scored McClelland on a RBI ground out to make the game 15-14. Valle then reached on an error by the JU second baseman, scoring senior
Lexi Taylor and tying the game at 15-15.
The Dolphins earned the walk-off win in the bottom of the seventh, scoring the game-winning run on a squeeze bunt, ending the game at 16-15.
McClelland led the way for the Ospreys' offense, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs. Duncan went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and one RBI.
The Ospreys return to action tomorrow for the final game of the River City Rumble at 1 p.m. This game will be streamed live on ESPN3.
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