Softball Defeats San Diego, Splits Opening Day Of Purple Classic

Friday, February 20

Phoenix, Ariz. / GCU Softball Stadium

4 p.m.

University of North Florida

12-3

San Diego

5-7

San Diego

North Florida

Softball Defeats San Diego, Splits Opening Day Of Purple Classic

2/20/2026 11:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

PHOENIX, Ariz. – North Florida Softball split a pair of games to open the Purple Classic in Phoenix, Ariz., on Friday at GCU Softball Stadium.

North Florida shutout San Diego 4-0 in the first game and fell 9-0 to host Grand Canyon in the second game of the doubleheader.

Junior infielder Bella Cimino reached base in both contests to extend her on-base streak to 16 games to open the season.

After three scoreless frames against San Diego, North Florida used a three-run fourth inning to secure the lead. After back-to-back walks from Cimino and sophomore catcher Ayden Oliva, junior infielder Hannah Davila roped a two-out double into deep center field to drive in Cimino and Olivia to put the Ospreys on the board. Senior infielder Taylor Shephard would hit a single in the next at bat to score Davila from second.

Allen launched an RBI double into right center in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend the lead to 4-0 for North Florida. Junior pitcher Cameron Ponich earned the win with a complete game shutout. Ponich allowed only three hits and struck out seven batters in 98 pitches. With the win, she improved to 5-1 on the season.

In the second game, Cimino roped a two-out single to left field for the Ospreys' first hit but was left on base to end the top of the first. In the bottom of the frame, Grand Canyon opened the scoring with six runs.

Kate Peters entered for Taylor Cook in the first inning and spun a 1-2-3 second inning. Grand Canyon added a run in the third and two runs in the fourth to reach the eventual final.

Game 1 | NORTH FLORIDA 4, SAN DIEGO 0
Pitchers of Record
Win: Cameron Ponich (5-1)
Loss: Kelsey Tadlock (2-2)

Line Scores
UNF | 4 R, 4 H, 1 E, 4 LOB
USD | 0 R, 3 H, 1 E, 5 LOB

Statistical Leaders
NORTH FLORIDA
Hannah Davila | 1-3, 2B, 2RBI
Ayden Allen | 1-3, 2B, RBI
Taylor Shephard | 1-3, 1B, RBI
Cameron Ponich | 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 98 pitches

SAN DIEGO
Kaylee Oh | 1-2, 1B
Mallory Axline | 1-3, 1B
Hailey Mulligan | 1-3, 1B
Kelsey Tadlock | 4.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 76 pitches
Charlie Johnson | 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 27 pitches

Game 2 | NORTH FLORIDA 0, GRAND CANYON 9 (5 inn.)
Pitchers of Record
Win: Oakley Vickers (4-0)
Loss: Taylor Cook (2-2)

Line Scores
UNF | 0 R, 2 H, 2 E, 4 LOB
GCU | 9 R, 7 H, 0 E, 2 LOB

Statistical Leaders
NORTH FLORIDA
Bella Cimino | 1-2, 1B
Caiden Oliva | 1-2, 1B
Taylor Cook | 0.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 9 pitches
Kate Peters | 3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 70 pitches
Kaydn Camper | 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 7 pitches

GRAND CANYON
Emily Gonzalez | 2-3, 2HR, 2RBI
Raegan Holtorf | 1-2, 1HR, 3 RBI
Jada Cooper | 1-2, 1 HR, RBI, BB
Oakley Vickers | 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 82 pitches
Abi Jones | 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 16 pitches

UP NEXT
North Florida continues the Purple Classic on Saturday, Feb. 21, when it battles UC Santa Barbara at 3:15 p.m. and rematches with San Diego at 6 p.m. ET.