LEESBURG, Fla. - North Florida softball (8-5) fell to Iowa, 3-1, finishing just short of a comeback attempt, then later lost another nail-biter to Notre Dame, 2-1, on the first day of competition at The Spring Games on Friday afternoon.
The Ospreys had great pitching performances from
Morgan Clausen and
Erin Kyle, but the offense couldn't find a spark in either game. Fielding errors also haunted the Ospreys, with four of the five runs permitted going down as unearned tallies.
All of UNF's losses have been to Power Five teams and three of those five losses have been by two runs or less.
GAME 1 | IOWA 3, UNF 1
Clausen made her return to the mound with another complete game performance with only one earned run allowed, but the offense couldn't generate anything until late in the seventh in UNF's 3-1 loss to the Hawkeyes.
Pitchers of Record
Win: Denali Loecker (4-0)
Loss:
Morgan Clausen (2-2)
Line Scores
IOWA | 3 R, 8 H, 0 E, 8 LOB
UNF | 1 R, 7 H, 3 E, 4 LOB
Behind the Line Score
- The scoring started early for Iowa after a single through the right side allowed two runs to score in the third.
- The Ospreys had an opportunity to put runs up themselves in the bottom of the third, but
Kayla McGory grounded out with runners on first and second.
- The Hawkeyes added on another run after a double to left center set up an RBI single to make the score 3-0.
- The Ospreys continued to struggle with stringing together hits with no runner making it to second from the fourth through the sixth.
- UNF had a chance to make a comeback attempt in the seventh after
Takiya London scored on a single by
Logan Jackson, but their attempt was cut short after grounding out.
Statistical Leaders
IOWA
- Sophia Maras | 2-3, 2 RBI, R
- Nia Carter | 1-3, RBI
- Denali Loecker | 2-4, R; 7.0 IP, R, 3 K, 59 pitches
UNF
Notes
- First time
Kayla Harper has had a perfect day at the plate while notching three hits.
- Third complete game of the season for Clausen.
- Clausen has only allowed one run or less in all three CG outings.
GAME 2 | UNF 1, NOTRE DAME 2
Kyle spun 81 pitches and did not allow an earned run in her performance, but two errors by the defense allowed a pair of runs to score as they fell, 2-1, to the Fighting Irish.
Pitchers of Record
Win: Alexis Holloway (3-1)
Loss:
Erin Kyle (3-2)
Line Scores
UNF | 1 R, 3 H, 2 E, 5 LOB
ND | 2 R, 7 H, 1 E, 7 LOB
Behind the Line Score
- Notre Dame strung together three hits in the first but couldn't push anything across as UNF turned a double play.
- The cold streak carried over for the bats in this game after the Ospreys went three up and three down through the first six batters.
- The Ospreys finally took their first lead in a game since Sunday, Feb. 20, after a single by McGory sent home London for the score.
- The Irish responded rather quickly after a fielding error sent home a runner from second to tie it back up.
- Notre Dame responded again in the fourth with another score on a fielding error by UNF to go up one.
- Both teams couldn't get anything going in the fifth and sixth with only one hit between the two through both innings.
- UNF had a chance in the seventh to get one more run to tie the game, but the Irish were able to close out the game, 2-1.
Statistical Leaders
UNF
ND
- Leea Hanks | 2-3, R
- Cassidy Grimm | 2-3, R
- Abby Sweet | 1-2
- Alexis Holloway | 7.0 IP, 3 H, R, 2 K, 94 pitches
Notes
-
Paige Pfent extended her on-base steak to 27 straight games.
- London made her first start of her Osprey career at shortstop.
- First time held to one run or less in four straight games since 2019 against Lipscomb and Kennesaw State.
UP NEXT
The Ospreys will return for the second day of The Spring Games to face off against Rutgers on Saturday, Feb. 26, at 4 p.m. This will be their third game of the weekend and their only game of the day.
