Softball Cruises Past Princeton for Eight Straight

Sunday, March 17

Clearwater, Fla.

12:15 p.m.

University of North Florida

17-8

Princeton

3-10

Princeton

North Florida

UNF pitcher Sydney Matzko throws over to first after getting a ground ball.

3/17/2019 2:33:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. - North Florida softball extended its winning streak to eight games as it downed Princeton, 9-1 in six innings on the final day of the USF Series.

UNF was last on an eight-game win streak in 2017. UNF won nine straight from March 14-March 22.

Pitchers of Record:
Win | Sydney Matzko (8-4)
Loss | Allie Reynolds (2-4)

How it Happened:

Princeton struck in the first inning on a pair of singles, but then starting pitcher, Matzko, settled down and got 12 of the next 14 batters out.
North Florida answered back after Megan Woodson led off with a bloop single and a perfect sac bunt put her in scoring position for Navia Penrod who sent a single down the left line.
In the next inning, UNF capitalized on two Tigers errors to make it a 2-1 game.
The Ospreys put distance between them when Rindy Bryant led off with a single before moving on a what should have been a sac bunt, but Princeton threw the ball away to get Bryant to third and keep Makenzie Griffin at first.
A sac fly from Woodson pushed the lead to 3-1 before Taylor Engman executed a sac bunt that allowed Griffin to score for the 4-1 lead.
Back-to-back walks to start the sixth put two on for Dominica Cocuzza who slammed a double to left center.
Penrod then stepped to the plate and sailed second home run of the season over the centerfield fence for the 8-1 advantage.
Another walk put Veronika Klimplova on before a sac bunt put her on second for Ashley Goebel's double and the game-ending hit.

Statistical Leaders:
UNF

Goebel | 2-for-4, Game-winning RBI Double
Penrod | 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI
Cocuzza | 2-for-3, 2 RBI, BB
Woodson | 1-for-2, 2 R, 2 RBI
Matzko | 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K

Princeton

Keeley Walsh | RBI
Megan Donahey | 1-for-2, BB

NOTES

All but one had a hit in the game, while everyone reached base safely at least once.
North Florida recorded double digit hits (11) for the eighth time this season and second time this weekend
Penrod is now just three hits away from tying the UNF school record in career hits (246). Cocuzza needs nine doubles to match the Ospreys career mark.
For the ninth time this season, the Ospreys earned three or more walks.
Cocuzza is on a team-best eight-game hit streak and nine-game reached base stretch. Klimplova has hit safely in six straight.

UP NEXT
North Florida slows down as it has just one midweek game against the reigning College World Series champion, No. 3 Florida State, set for Wednesday in Tallahassee. Game time is set for 6 p.m.