JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida softball turned in a split first day across town in the JU-UNF Invitational hosted by Jacksonville on Friday evening.
The Ospreys dropped its first game of the day in a defensive battle that turned into a slugfest over the final two innings. UNF had clutch hits to regain the lead in the sixth, but couldn't hold on for the win in the seventh.
UNF rebounded in the second game against Cleveland State, where
Kylah Berry was dominant with a complete-game shutout plus a two-run homer by
Allison Benning and a bases-clearing double from
Chloe Culp. An RBI single from freshman
Grace Shaw-Rockey in the sixth put the Ospreys above the run-rule threshold for the 8-0 victory.
GAME 1 | UConn 5, UNF 4
Pitchers of Record
Win: Sydnee Koosh (3-2)
Loss: Allison Benning (2-2)
Line Scores
UCONN | 5 R, 7 H, 2 E, 5 LOB
UNF | 4 R, 9 H, 0 E, 13 LOB
Statistical Leaders
UNF
Chloe Culp | 1-4, RBI, R, solo HR
Lauren Brock | 2-4, RBI
Lauren Bevis | 2-4, R
Allison Benning | 7.0 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 10 K; 1-1, 2 BB
UCONN
Grace Jenkins | 1-3, 3 RBI, R, three-run HR
Cat Petteys | 2-3, 2 RBI, R
Sydnee Koosh | 5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
GAME 2 | UNF 8, CSU 0 (6 Inn.)
Pitchers of Record
Win: Kylah Berry (1-0)
Loss: Melissa Holzopfel (0-2)
Line Scores
CSU | 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 3 LOB
UNF | 8 R, 13 H, 0 E, 9 LOB
Statistical Leaders
UNF
Allison Benning | 1-2, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, two-run HR
Chloe Culp | 1-3, 3 RBI, R
Lauren Brock | 2-3, RBI, R
Kylah Berry | 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
CSU
Brooke Albaugh | 1-2
Peyton Mueller Stenz | 1-2
Melissa Holzopfel | 4.0 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
NOTES
- Benning tagged on her fifth home run of the season, which ranks among the top hitters in the nation.
- The senior was also nails in the circle with 10 strikeouts, tallying eight or more for the second time on the year.
- Berry had her best showing of the season thus far with six scoreless innings, seven strikeouts and only two hits allowed.
- Lauren Brock continues to be stellar at the plate as well with a .467 batting average, going a scorching 14-for-30.
- Culp hit her first home run on the year against UConn, joining Benning and Mackenzie Woods with bombs in 2025.
- The third run-rule victory of the season was earned by the Ospreys against Cleveland State.
UP NEXT
North Florida continues its weekend at the JU-UNF Invitational against MTSU set for 4:30 p.m., followed with a rematch against Cleveland State at 7 p.m.