
Photo by: Quan Nyguen
Softball Falls In Midweek Finale At No. 22 UCF
4/22/2026 8:30:00 PM | Softball
ORLANDO, Fla. -Â North Florida fell on the road to No. 22 UCF, 4-2, in its final midweek game of the season on Wednesday, April 22, at UCF Softball Complex in Orlando, Fla.
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After back-to-back walks from graduate student Hallie Langford and junior utility player Addie Keef to begin the game, senior infielder Ayden Allen would lift a sacrifice fly into center field to give the Ospreys an early 1-0 lead. Langford extended her on-base streak to 10 games.
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Keef would extend her on-base streak to 11 games with a single up in the middle in the third inning.
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Reaching on a fielder's choice, junior infielder Bella Cimino improved her on-base streak to 18-consecutive contests.
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Senior right-handed pitcher Kate Peters began the contest in the circle spinning 2.1 scoreless innings.
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With a UCF runner on second and one out, the Ospreys made the call to the bullpen to bring in sophomore right-handed pitcher Taylor Cook. Cook forced a fly out and a ground out to keep the Knights off the scoreboard. The Ospreys would hold the Knights hitless through the first three innings.Â
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UCF would threaten again with a pair of runners in scoring position and one out, but UNF would escape the jam catching a runner stealing and forcing a pop out in foul territory.
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The Knights would finally breakthrough with a pair of runs in the fifth inning to take their first lead of the game in the fifth inning, 2-1.
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North Florida threatened after a one out double from Cimino but were unable to convert.
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UCF would add on to its lead with two runs in the sixth to reach the eventual final.
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NORTH FLORIDA X, NO. 22 UCF X
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Pitchers of Record
Win:Â Payne Tori (2-0)
Loss:Â Taylor Cook (6-4)
Save:Â Lena Elkins (2)
Line Scores
UNF | 1 R, 3 H, 1 E, 5 LOB
UCF | 4 R, 5 H, 1 E, 6 LOB
Statistical Leaders
UNF
Ayden Allen | RBI
Bella Cimino | 1-3, 2B
Addie Keef | 1-2
Hannah Davila | 1-2
Kate Peters | 3.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 57 pitches
Taylor Cook | 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 WP, 34 pitches
Cameron Ponich | 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 26 pitches
UCF
Izzy Mertes | 1-3, 2 RBI
Ashleigh Griffin | 1-3, 2B
Coco Jaimes | 1-3, 2B, RBI
Zoe Calves | 1-2, 2B, RBI
Tori Payne | 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO, 85 pitches
Lena Elkins | 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 K, 34 pitches
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UP NEXT
North Florida host West Georgia for its final home series of the season at UNF Softball Complex beginning on Friday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
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After back-to-back walks from graduate student Hallie Langford and junior utility player Addie Keef to begin the game, senior infielder Ayden Allen would lift a sacrifice fly into center field to give the Ospreys an early 1-0 lead. Langford extended her on-base streak to 10 games.
Â
Keef would extend her on-base streak to 11 games with a single up in the middle in the third inning.
Â
Reaching on a fielder's choice, junior infielder Bella Cimino improved her on-base streak to 18-consecutive contests.
Â
Senior right-handed pitcher Kate Peters began the contest in the circle spinning 2.1 scoreless innings.
Â
With a UCF runner on second and one out, the Ospreys made the call to the bullpen to bring in sophomore right-handed pitcher Taylor Cook. Cook forced a fly out and a ground out to keep the Knights off the scoreboard. The Ospreys would hold the Knights hitless through the first three innings.Â
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UCF would threaten again with a pair of runners in scoring position and one out, but UNF would escape the jam catching a runner stealing and forcing a pop out in foul territory.
Â
The Knights would finally breakthrough with a pair of runs in the fifth inning to take their first lead of the game in the fifth inning, 2-1.
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North Florida threatened after a one out double from Cimino but were unable to convert.
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UCF would add on to its lead with two runs in the sixth to reach the eventual final.
Â
                                                                     Â
NORTH FLORIDA X, NO. 22 UCF X
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Pitchers of Record
Win:Â Payne Tori (2-0)
Loss:Â Taylor Cook (6-4)
Save:Â Lena Elkins (2)
Line Scores
UNF | 1 R, 3 H, 1 E, 5 LOB
UCF | 4 R, 5 H, 1 E, 6 LOB
Statistical Leaders
UNF
Ayden Allen | RBI
Bella Cimino | 1-3, 2B
Addie Keef | 1-2
Hannah Davila | 1-2
Kate Peters | 3.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 57 pitches
Taylor Cook | 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 WP, 34 pitches
Cameron Ponich | 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 26 pitches
UCF
Izzy Mertes | 1-3, 2 RBI
Ashleigh Griffin | 1-3, 2B
Coco Jaimes | 1-3, 2B, RBI
Zoe Calves | 1-2, 2B, RBI
Tori Payne | 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO, 85 pitches
Lena Elkins | 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 K, 34 pitches
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UP NEXT
North Florida host West Georgia for its final home series of the season at UNF Softball Complex beginning on Friday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Tori Payne (2-0)
L: Cook, Taylor (6-4)
S: Lena Elkins (2)

Batting:
2B: Cimino, Bella 1
RBI: Allen, Ayden 1
SF: Allen, Ayden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Langford, Hallie 1

Batting:
2B: Ashleigh Griffin 1 ; Coco Jaimes 1 ; Zoe Calvez 1
RBI: Izzy Mertes 2 ; Coco Jaimes 1 ; Zoe Calvez 1
SH: Destiny Washington 1 ; Samantha Rey 1
SF: Coco Jaimes 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sierra Humphreys 1 ; Kalista Birkenstock 1 ; Coco Jaimes 1 ; Samantha Rey 1
SB: Samantha Rey 1
CS: Taylor Kittleman 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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