JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - In a weekend series that features two of the top three teams currently in the ASUN standings, North Florida softball (30-16, 14-6 ASUN) started off the matchup by forcing a split in its doubleheader against Eastern Kentucky (37-7, 18-2 ASUN) on Saturday afternoon at UNF Softball Complex.

The Ospreys struggled in its first game against EKU, as they only tallied five hits and were shut out in a run-rule that lasted six innings. They came out for the back half of the doubleheader with a spark with Shannon Glover and Madisyn Federico recording multi-RBI hits in the middle innings to force the Saturday split.

GAME 1 | EKU 9, UNF 0 (6 Inn.)

Two-way players Allison Benning and Maddi Rutan were in a duel in both sides of the plate in the first doubleheader game through a few inning, but EKU got the best of the Ospreys to a shutout loss to open the series.

Pitchers of Record
Win: Maddi Rutan (22-3)
Loss: Allison Benning (17-9)

Line Scores
UNF | 9 R, 7 H, 0 E, 4 LOB
EKU | 0 R, 5 H, 3 E, 5 LOB

Statistical Leaders
UNF
Logan Jackson | 2-3
Madisyn Federico | 1-3
Hadlee Reichert | 1-3
Chloe Culp | 1-2
Allison Benning | 3.0 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 55 pitches

EKU
Jasmine Miller | 1-2, 3 RBI, R, two-run HR
Maggie Pertee | 1-4, 2 RBI, R
Vianna Barron | 2-3, 2 RBI, R, BB
Makayla Mathis | 2-2, RBI, R
Maddi Rutan | R, BB; 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 74 pitches

GAME 1 | UNF 7, EKU 3

A bases-clearing double in the fourth inning, courtesy of Federico, opened the game up for the Ospreys in the second doubleheader game take take a six-run lead and hold on to the advantage for the 7-3 win at home.

Pitchers of Record
Win: Halle Arends (11-4)
Loss: Tayteum Vigansky (7-2)

Line Scores
UNF | 3 R, 8 H, 2 E, 11 LOB
EKU | 7 R, 7 H, 2 E, 6 LOB

Statistical Leaders
UNF
Madisyn Federico | 1-3, 3 RBI, R
Shannon Glover | 1-4, 2 RBI
Hadlee Reichert | 2-4, 2 R
Allison Benning | 1-2, RBI, 2 BB; 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 24 pitches
Halle Arends | 5.1 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 107 pitches

EKU
Makayla Mathis | 2-3, RBI, R
Jaelin Haynes | 2-4, R
Jeanay Riley | 1-4, RBI
Lauren Narvaez | 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 31 pitches

UP NEXT

The Ospreys look to take the series against Eastern Kentucky on Sunday, Apr. 28, with first pitch set for 1 p.m., at UNF Softball Complex.