JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida softball split its first pair of games on opening day of the Spring Break Challenge at UNF Softball Complex on Friday evening.
The Ospreys found themselves in a pitchers duel in Game 1 against St. John's with
Allison Benning putting together a remarkable performance in the circle. Benning dealt all seven innings allowing just one run while striking out seven. However, UNF had a difficult time getting its back going en route to a narrow 1-0 falter.
Looking to bounce back in its nightcap, North Florida did just that.
Mackenzie Woods stole home on a wild pitch in the bottom of the second to knot the score 1-1.
Kirsten Caravaca drove in a run later in the frame on a fielder's choice to give UNF a one-run advantage.
Lauren Brock followed with a run of her own via a fielding error to put the Ospreys ahead 3-1 at the end of the second inning.
Woods and Caravaca helped extend UNF's lead to 6-2 in the third with a RBI-double to right-center field and infield single, respectively.
Logan Turner and
Chloe Culp capped off the scoring for North Florida in the fourth and fifth frames with a pair of RBI singles before the Ospreys cruised to an 8-3 win.
GAME 1 | SJU 1, UNF 0
Pitchers of Record
Win: Allison Benning (9-5)
Loss: Ana Serafinko (6-4)
Line Scores
SJU | 1 R, 5 H, 0 E, 6 LOB
UNF | 0 R, 3 H, 2 E, 4 LOB
Statistical Leaders
UNF
Allison Benning | 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 H, 7 K, 107 pitches
Kirsten Caravaca | 1-2, 1 BB
Kelsey Vogel | 1-3
Chloe Culp | 1-3
SJU
Ana Serafinko | 7.0 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 9 K, 101 pitches
Jess Bianco | 2-4, 1 R, 1 SB
Anese Thompson | 0-2, 1 BB, 1 RBI
GAME 2 | UNF 8, MER 3
Pitchers of Record
Win: Kylah Berry (2-0)
Loss: Grace Roark (3-3)
Line Scores
MU | 3 R, 7 H, 3 E, 10 LOB
UNF | 8 R, 13 H, 1 E, 12 LOB
Statistical Leaders
UNF
Grace Shaw-Rockey | 3-4, 2 R
Kirsten Caravaca | 1-5, 2 RBI, 1 SB
Mackenzie Woods | 2-3, 2 R, 1 RBI
Logan Turner | 2-2, 1 RBI
Chloe Culp | 1-4, 1 RBI
MER
Hallie Langford | 2-4, 2 R, 1 SB
Tori Hedgecock | 1-2, 2 RBI, 1 BB
Parris Wiggs | 2-4, 1 RBI
NOTES
- North Florida (19-8) remains 11 games over .500 with a split in its doubleheader.
- Allison Benning pitched her fifth complete game of the season while allowing one or fewer runs in four of those five outings.
- Benning's one earned run against St. John's brought her ERA this season to 1.39.
- Three players (Shaw-Rockey, Woods and Turner) tallied multi-hit games against Mercer and nine total players recorded at least one hit.
UP NEXT
North Florida will continue its action at the Spring Break Challenge with two games against Army and another tilt with Mercer on Saturday, Mar. 8, at UNF Softball Complex.