JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - In a tense and back-and-forth game, it was North Florida softball (41-15) that delivered the decisive blow as
Paige Pfent put the Ospreys out in front with a two-out two-RBI single up the middle on an 0-2 pitch to give UNF a 5-3 lead and eventually the win in eight innings against Central Arkansas (33-19) Thursday, May 12.
The win brings North Florida to the winners bracket finals against the winner of No. 1 Liberty and No. 4 North Alabama tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. The victor in that contest moves on to the championship set for Saturday.
Pfent put UNF ahead, 3-2, with a two-run bomb in the fourth before breaking a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning with a clutch frozen rope.
Righty
Morgan Clausen came on in relief in the fourth, turning in five innings of one-run ball to earn her second win in as many days.
UNF 5, UCA 3 (8 inn.)
Pitchers of Record
Win:
Morgan Clausen (14-4)
Loss: Kayla Beaver (18-8)
Line Scores
UCA | 3R, 6H, 2E, 4 LOB
UNF | 5R, 7H, E, 3 LOB
Behind the Line Score
- Bailee Aguigui broke the 0-0 tie in the top of the third, plating Hayley Bejarano with a sac fly to left after Bejarano and Logan Jackson ripped singles.
- UCA took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third thanks to a bases loaded two-out two-RBI through the right side.
- UNF took the lead right back in the top of the fourth. Shannon Glover singled through the left side and Paige Pfent blasted a towering two-run home run to left.
- The Bears got a leadoff double, sac bunt and RBI groundout to tie it 3-3 in the fifth.
- The deadlock remained at 3-3 as things went to extras.
- UNF took advantage of two UCA errors in the eighth, scoring two thanks to a clutch two-out two-RBI base hit up the middle on an 0-2 pitch from Pfent.
- Clausen turned in a spotless eighth to seal the win.
Statistical Leaders
UCA
- Jaylee Engelkes | 1-for-4, 2RBI
- Tylar Vernon | 1-for-3, R
- Kayla Beaver | L, 5.0 IP, 3H, 2R, 0ER, BB, 2K
UNF
- Paige Pfent | 2-for-4, 4RBI, R, HR
- Hayley Bejarano | 1-for-2, R, BB
- Morgan Clausen | W, 5.0 IP, 3H, ER, 0BB, 3K
Notes
- UNF improves to 4-0 on the season against UCA.
- Both teams that UNF has defeated in the tournament have been teams the Ospreys swept during the regular season.
- North Florida was the visitor in the box score as UCA entered with the higher seed.
- It was a season high four RBI for Pfent.
- The game only saw two walks.
- North Florida is within one game of tying its DI era record for wins in a season.
- UNF is 5-3 in all extra-inning games this year.
- North Florida has defeated UCA twice in extra innings this year.
Up Next
UNF takes on top-seeded Liberty tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. for the right to advance to the championship.