Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

University of North Florida Athletics

Morgan Clausen pitching
Clausen spun her seventh save of the year during the victory against UCA.
1
North Florida UNF 41-16
9
Winner LIBERTY LIBERTY 42-16
North Florida UNF
41-16
1
Final
9
LIBERTY LIBERTY
42-16
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E
North Florida UNF 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 4 1
LIBERTY LIBERTY 4 4 0 0 0 1 9 13 3

W: KIRBY, Emily (13-5) L: Clausen, Morgan (14-5)

3
Winner North Florida UNF 42-16
1
Central Arkansas UCA 35-20
Winner
North Florida UNF
42-16
3
Final
1
Central Arkansas UCA
35-20
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
North Florida UNF 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 5 1
Central Arkansas UCA 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 3

W: Arends, Halle (20-5) L: Jordan Johnson (14-12) S: Clausen, Morgan (7)

Game Recap: Softball |

Softball Eliminates Central Arkansas, Advances to Championship Round

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


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
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.
 
Print Friendly Version