Softball Eliminates Central Arkansas, Advances to Championship Round

Friday, May 13

Jacksonville, Fla.

12:30 p.m.

University of North Florida

41-16

Liberty

42-16

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
North Florida	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	4	1
LIBERTY	4	4	0	0	0	1	9	13	3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
North Florida	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	3	5	1
Central Arkansas	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	3

Clausen spun her seventh save of the year during the victory against UCA.

Softball Eliminates Central Arkansas, Advances to Championship Round

5/13/2022 11:32:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - After falling in the winners bracket to top-seeded Liberty (42-16) to open the day, North Florida softball showed a short memory by rebounding to eliminate second-seeded Central Arkansas (35-20) with a 3-1 win in the nightcap.

The victory advances the Osprey to the championship round Saturday. North Florida will need to defeat Liberty twice to claim the title due to the double-elimination format.

UNF scored all three of its runs in the fifth inning during the must-have win against the Bears. The Ospreys tie the Division I-era program record for single season wins with 42, while also reaching the finals in search for the program's first-ever ASUN Championship.

Game 1: LIB 9, UNF 1 (6 inn.)

Pitchers of Record
Win: Emily Kirby (13-5)
Loss: Morgan Clausen (14-5)

Line Scores
UNF | 1R, 4H, 1E, 6 LOB
LIB | 9R, 13H, 3E, 5 LOB

Behind the Line Score

Liberty used three singles, a walk and an error to manufacture a four-run first inning.
LU's Paige Bachman took the 12th pitch of an at-bat for a solo home run to left center in the bottom of the second.
Four two-out singles and a walk helped the Flames plate three more in the second.
Liberty loaded the bags in the third, but Erin Kyle worked a groundout and a double play to strand three runners.
The Ospreys evaded the run-rule after Hayley Bejarano reached on a leadoff triple to dead center in the fifth. She nearly had a home run, but Liberty outfielder Mary Claire Wilson brought the ball back from being a home run. Logan Jackson laced an RBI single through the right side one batter later.
The Flames ended the game early with a double off the wall followed by an RBI single in the sixth.
Despite the team loss, Erin Kyle did a great job quieting the Liberty offense late, spinning four innings of one-run ball.

Statistical Leaders
LIB

Devyn Howard | 2-for-4, R
Lou Allan | 2-for-4, R, 2B
Mary CLaire Wilson | 2-for-3, 2R, 2RBI
Emily Kirby | W, 4.1 IP, 4H, ER, 0BB, 2K

UNF

Kayla McGory | 1-for-3
Bailee Aguigui | 1-for-2
Hayley Bejarano | 1-for-3, 3B
Erin Kyle | ND, 4.0 IP, 5H, ER, 0BB, 0K

Game 2: UNF 3, UCA 1

Pitchers of Record
Win: Halle Arends (20-5)
Loss: Jordan Johnson (14-11)
Save: Morgan Clausen (7)

Line Scores
UNF | 3R, 5H, E, 8 LOB
UCA | 1R, 3H, 3E, 6 LOB

Behind the Line Score

UCA used speed to score one in the second. A bunt single, productive groundout and RBI single from Jaylee Engelkes just over Savannah Channell's glove at shortstop scored one.
Abi Annett ripped a two-out double to right center in the second for UNF's first hit. Kayla Harper followed with a single through the left side and took second on the throw, but UCA worked out of it with a flyout.
A tense fourth inning that featured multiple quality at-bats ended in favor of UCA. With the bases loaded, UCA's third baseman dove to deflect a sharp grounder from Kayla McGory. She gathered it and tagged the base with her hand for a force out.
UNF finally broke through with a three-run fifth. Paige Pfent walked and was pinch run for by Takiya London. Shannon Glover slashed a single through the right side, sending London to third.
An errant throw back into the infield allowed London to score.
Channell walked and a wild pitch moved Glover and Channell into scoring position. An RBI groundout from Jackson was followed by a fielding miscue on a Hayley Bejarano grounder, giving UNF a 3-1 lead.
Clausen didn't permit a hit and only allowed three baserunners the rest of the way, closing the door on UCA.

Statistical Leaders
UCA

Tremere Harris | 1-for-2, R, BB
Jaylee Engelkes | 1-for-3, RBI
Kayla Beaver | 2.2 IP, 0H, 0R, ER, BB, 3K

UNF

Shannon Glover | 2-for-4, R
Hayley Bejarano & Abi Annett | One hit apiece
Halle Arends | W, 4.1 IP, 3H, ER, 2BB, 4K
Morgan Clausen | SV, 2.2 IP, 0ER, 0H, BB, 5K

Notes

It was the first game Kayla Harper didn't start in the leadoff hole since the final game of the 2021 season.
Kayla McGory was in the leadoff spot for the first time since March 24, 2021, against USF.
Halle Arends earned her 20th win, becoming the ninth Osprey in program history to reach that mark.
Clausen upped her save total to seven. She came into the game second in the country in saves.
UNF went 5-0 against UCA on the season.
Twice in the tournament UNF scored the game-winning runs in the fifth inning.
UNF advances to its second ASUN championship final in program history.

Up Next
North Florida advances to the championship for a rematch with top-seeded Liberty tomorrow at 1 p.m. With a win, UNF plays for the title, having to beat the Flames twice after coming out of the loser's bracket.