CONWAY, Ark. - North Florida softball (15-9, 0-2 ASUN) couldn't get the bats rolling in timely moments during the ASUN Conference opener, as the Ospreys dropped a pair on the road against Central Arkansas (17-7, 2-0 ASUN) in the doubleheader Saturday, March 18.

The Ospreys displayed great defense in their first game against UCA, but only had two hits in a game that was decided by a solo home run in the second inning. UNF showed out through the first two innings in the second doubleheader game, but 13 runs given up in the third and fourth inning was enough for the Bears to take both games on the day.

Chloe Culp was the only Osprey to have a hit in both games, as she totaled three hits over the doubleheader day. Logan Jackson launched a three-run homer in the second game and Ashley Connor also performed well with a six-inning complete-game performance with seven total strikeouts in the opener.

GAME 1 | UCA 1, UNF 0

Connor pitched a complete-game with seven strikeouts, but a solo homer was all it took for the Bears to win the conference opener, 1-0.

Pitchers of Record
Win: Jordan Johnson (7-2)
Loss: Ashley Connor (5-5)

Line Scores
UNF | 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 7 LOB
UCA | 1 R, 7 H, 2 E, 6 LOB

Behind the Line Score

• Connor had an ideal start in the circle after striking out the side and leaving one runner on base.
• In the second, the Bears were the first team to score after a home run put them up by a run.
• The Ospreys drew two walks in the fourth inning, but were stranded on the bases.
• Connor shut down UCA in the fourth, totaling seven strikeouts through the first four innings.
• Culp recorded the first hit of the day for UNF in the sixth, but the Bears kept the Ospreys at bay.
• UNF had two runners on base after a single from Mackenzie Woods, along with a walk drawn, but a pair of foul outs and a strikeout ended the comeback attempt short.

Statistical Leaders
UNF
Chloe Culp | 1-3
Mackenzie Woods | 1-2, BB
Ashley Connor | 6.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 7 K, 1 BB, 98 pitches

UCA
Morgan Nelson | 1-3, RBI, R, go-ahead solo HR
Colleen Bare | 2-3
Jordan Johnson | 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 K, 4 BB, 103 pitches

GAME 2 | UCA 13, UNF 4 (5 Inn.)

Ospreys kept it a defensive game early once again, but 13 runs scored by UCA over two innings was too much to overcome in the 13-4 loss in five innings.

Pitchers of Record
Win: Kayla Beaver (10-4)
Loss: Halle Arends (0-1)

Line Scores
UNF | 4 R, 5 H, 0 E, 6 LOB
UCA | 13 R, 13 H, 0 E, 5 LOB

Behind the Line Score

• Meagan Calandra got the second game started by drawing a bases-loaded walk in the second to go up a run.
• The Bears got the run back at the top of the third with a sac fly to tie the game, 1-1.
• the UCA offense opened open after they added six more runs in the third, including a three-run homer to lead by six.
• Another three-run home run brought the Osprey deficit to double digits in the fourth.
• Jackson mashed a three-run bomb to cut into the UCA lead after Glover and Culp reached base on back-to-back singles.
• Annett continued the late offensive display with a single, but a pop-out ended the game in five innings.

Statistical Leaders
UNF
Logan Jackson | 1-3, 3 RBI, R, three-run HR
Chloe Culp | 2-3, 2 R
Shannon Glover | 1-2, R, BB
Izzy Kelly | 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 K, 0 BB, 35 pitches

UCA
Madi Young | 1-3, 3 RBI, 2 R, BB, three-run HR
Jani Wilson | 1-1, 3 RBI, R, three-run HR
Tremere Harris | 3-3, 2 R, BB
Kayla Beaver | 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 7 K, 5 BB, 105 pitches

NOTES

• Halle Arends, the Preseason ASUN Pitcher of the Year, made her season debut on the opening day of conference play.
• Culp had the most hits on the day for UNF with one in the first game and two in the second.
• Jackson joins Glover as the team leader in home runs with three total on the season.
• Connor pitched her fourth complete game of the year and has brought her strikeout total to 57.
• Ospreys still hold 6-2 edge over Central Arkansas in program history.

UP NEXT

The Osprey close out their first conference series of the season against Central Arkansas on Sunday, Mar. 19, at 12 p.m. ET.