Softball Concludes Purple Classic With a 7-2 Triumph Over Montana

Sunday, February 22

Phoenix, Ariz. / GCU Softball Stadium

11 a.m.

University of North Florida

14-5

Montana

4-10

North Florida

Montana

Softball Concludes Purple Classic With a 7-2 Triumph Over Montana

2/22/2026 2:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

PHOENIX, Ariz. - North Florida softball defeated Montana, 7-2, to conclude the Purple Classic in Phoenix, Ariz., on Sunday at GCU Softball Stadium.

The Ospreys used a four run second inning to jump out to an early advantage over the Grizzlies.

Sophomore catcher Caiden Oliva got the inning started with a triple to right field and would come around to score after a fielding error by the center fielder. Senior infielder Taylor Shephard would pick up a pair of RBIs with a single up the middle. Graduate outfielder Hallie Langford roped a double into center field to drive in UNF's fourth run of the contest.

Sophomore outfielder Kennedy McQuillan belted a two-run homer to left field to increase North Florida's lead to 6-0 in the third inning. For McQuillan, it was her first collegiate home run.

After a double from Langford, junior infielder Bella Cimino would extend her on base streak to 19 games with an RBI single to score Langford from second and make the score 7-0 in the top half of the fourth.

Facing a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the fourth, junior pitcher Cameron Ponich would pick up a swinging strikeout to keep the Grizzlies off the board. Ponich would earn the win for the Ospreys tossing 4.1 scoreless innings to improve to 6-1 on the season.

Montana would tack on a pair of runs in the sixth inning to reach the eventual final.

NORTH FLORIDA 7, MONTANA 2
Pitchers of Record
Win: Cameron Ponich (6-1)
Loss: Kaiana Kong (2-4)

Line Scores
UNF | 7 R, 10 H, 0 E, 7 LOB
UM | 2 R, 5 H, 1 E, 4 LOB

Statistical Leaders
UNF
Hallie Langford | 2-3, 2 2B, RBI, HBP
Kennedy McQuillan | 1-3, HR, 2 RBI
Caiden Oliva | 1-4, 3B
Taylor Shephard | 1-1, 2 RBI
Cameron Ponich | 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO, 73 pitches
Taylor Cook | 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 13 pitches,

UM
Grace Lopez | 2-2, 2 H, BB
Chloe Saxton | 2-3, 2 H
Mackenzie Bekofsky | 1-1, 2B, 2 RBI
Kaiana Kong | 3.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, BB, SO, 56 pitches
Carah Sweet | 4.0 IP | 4 H, 1 ER, BB, SO, HBP, 61 pitches

UP NEXT
North Florida welcomes DePaul and Tennessee Tech to UNF Softball Complex for the UNF-JU Classic beginning Friday, Feb. 27.