BIRDS OF CLAY OPEN AT TROY
Game 1 & 3: Western Kentucky	Saturday, Feb. 8 | 10 a.m. | Troy, Ala.  | Troy Softball Complex
	TV/Video: Live Stats
Series History	UNF leads 1-0 | Last time: North Florida W, 1-0 (Feb. 6, 2015) [Recap | Stats]
Game 2: College of Charleston	Saturday, Feb. 8 | 12:30 p.m. | Troy, Ala. | Troy Softball Complex
	TV/Video: Live Stats
Series History	College of Charleston leads 2-1 | Last time: North Florida W, 5-1 (Feb.16, 2019)  [Recap | Stats]
Game 4: Troy	Sunday, Feb. 9 | 11 a.m. | Troy, Ala.  | Troy Softball Complex
	TV/Video: FACEBOOK LIVE| Live Stats
Series History	UNF leads 8-5 | Last time: North Florida W, 5-2 (Feb. 10, 2017) [Recap | Stats]
Looking Ahead	North Florida plays nationally-ranked Florida Wednesday before opening at home
Social Media	@OspreyWBB | #SWOOPLife | Facebook | @UNFOspreys

 

JACKSONVILLE - North Florida softball opens its season on the road in the Troy Classic facing three opponents in four games beginning Saturday.

AT THE HELM
Head Coach Marcie Higgs enters her 12th season after leading her team to the ASUN Championship Final last season; the Ospreys finished the 2019 season with a 30-24 record. Higgs is just three wins shy of 400 for her career.

PRESEASON NOTES

• The Ospreys were picked to finish sixth in the Preseason Poll with Veronika Klimpova as the only returning award winner from last season; Kayla McGory, the 2017 ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, also returns after missing last season.
• Morgan Clausen is the lone returner to the UNF pitching staff from last year; she appeared in 28 games, had a 3.15 ERA in her 84.1 innings while collecting 53 strikeouts. 

THEY LIKE ME
Returning to the field this season, Kayla McGory was the Fan-Voted ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. In 2018, the shortstop started all 54 games at shortstop and batted .250 on the year. She stole 12 bases and was tied for the team-lead with 14 walks. She finished the year with 14 RBI and scored 17 runs for the Ospreys. In the field, she had 120 assists, the second-most of any ASUN player in 2018.      

STARTING SOPHOMORES
After ASUN All-Freshman team nods, Veronika Klimplova and Morgan Clausen return for their second season. Klimplova started all 54 games last season for the Ospreys at second. She recorded a .238 batting average on 39 hits, including five doubles and three homers. In the field she posted a .951 fielding percentage, with 106 putouts. Clausen is the only returner from the pitching staff of four last year. She tossed 28 games and started seven. Clausen had an ERA of 3.15 in her 84.1 innings pitched with 53 punch outs.

FRESH FACES
North Florida has 11 newcomers on the roster comprised of seven freshmen, three transfers and one junior college player. The pitching staff will be one of the youngest in the conference as four are rookies.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Western Kentucky (2019: 37-13, 18-6 CUSA)

• Kendall Smith led the Hilltoppers with 12 homers last season and recorded 12 two-baggers. 
• Western Kentucky's lone senior Kelsey Aikey earned a Second Team All-Conference USA Selection last season with a 2.15 ERA and struck out 184 batters.
• Kennedy Sullivan was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team after hitting .281 with 30 RBI and had a 3.14 ERA on the mound.
• The Ospreys are 1-0 against Western Kentucky, winning 7-2 in the Troy Tournament in 2015. 

College of Charleston (2019: 26-30, 9-12 CAA)

• In 2019, Yari Felix was second on the team in batting average (.310) and hits (44), while Lexee Emanuel led the Cougars with 12 homers. 
• The Ospreys took down the Cougars 5-1 at home with three RBI from Tiffany Lower. 

Troy (2019: 37-20, 19-8 Sun Belt)

• Katie Webb earned All-Sun Belt First Team honors after hitting .355 and flashed the leather with a .989 fielding percentage at first base.
• Leanna Johnson was named Freshman of the Year after punching out 231 batters with 25 wins including a no-hitter. 
• Last time out, the Ospreys defeated Troy back in 2017 with a 5-2 win fueled by Ashley Niesman's two-RBI performance.