JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville split a doubleheader with North Florida in the softball edition of the River City Rumble as the Ospreys took game one, 8-0, in six innings, and the Dolphins bounced back for a 4-2 victory in game two with help from a three-run home run from Danielle Baker, Sunday afternoon at UNF Softball Complex.
"We didn't find any rhythm offensively in the first game. As we went into the second game, we talked about being more aggressive earlier in the count and luckily, we got some good pitches to swing at. Danielle [Baker] got a big hit when we needed it, so that gave us a lot of life early," said Head Coach Jennifer Steele.
Game One
North Florida scored a trio of runs in the first and fifth innings and single runs in the third and sixth innings to take the series opened, 8-0, in six innings.
The Dolphins (27-22, 5-9 ASUN Conference) were able to get a runner on in the top of the first when Ciara Jones took the first pitch through the right side with one out to get on base. Jones stole second with two outs, but a called third strike on the outside part of the plate left her stranded on base.
Madison Ragan got the first two Ospreys out swinging in the bottom of the first, but the next two singled to get runners on first and second. Dominica Cocuzza made it 1-0 Ospreys with a hard-hit double down the left field line and a passed ball allowed a second UNF base runner to scoot home. Macayla Kelley then drove in UNF's third run with a single into shallow right field before the Dolphins were able to get out of the inning.
UNF (29-22, 8-6 ASUN) added a run in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly out to left field and pulled ahead, 7-0, in the fifth on a three-run shot from Jenna Brownell.
With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, Cocuzza drove in the game-winning run on a single through the left side to end the game with an 8-0 Osprey advantage.
Ragan (7-5) tossed 4.1 innings and struck out four, but suffered the loss in the circle. Logan Green earned a complete game victory to improve to 12-14 on the season.
Game Two
Danielle Baker proved to be the hero of game two as her three-run moon shot sealed the victory for the Dolphins in a 4-2 win in the nightcap.
Jacksonville got on the board in the top of the third after Baker took a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left center field with runners on first and second to put JU up, 3-0. Jordan Daniels followed up with a double to the fence in the same area in left center, but UNF was able to get the final two outs to keep the Dolphins at bay.
UNF answered back with a run on a Dolphin throwing error in the bottom of the frame, 3-1. With one out and Osprey base runners on first and second, Baker tagged the runner headed for third and threw the ball to first to complete the double play and get the Dolphins out of the inning.
"Danielle [Baker] was around the softball all of the time. She played so hard and kept so many balls in the infield, saved a run or two, and when you're out there playing that hard up the middle of the diamond, that gives your pitcher a lot of confidence in the circle," said Steele.
UNF added a second run when Kayla McGory led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run to cut the Ospreys' deficit to 3-2.
Ragan added an insurance tally in the top of the seventh when she singled through the right side with one out to bring in Allie McCourt and make it 4-2 Dolphins.
"[Starting pitcher] Taylor [Thorpe] kept the game manageable; she started really well. Alyssa [Bilodeau] did a great job putting the ball where she wanted and allowing the defense to make plays," added Steele.
Alyssa Bilodeau (9-7) tossed 4.0 innings of relief, allowed one hit, and retired the first 11 Osprey batters she faced to earn the win. Bilodeau's counterpart Morgan Blourne gave up five hits and three earned runs to fall to 10-5 on the season.
Ragan led the Dolphins with a 3-for-7 performance on the day, including 3-for-4 in game two, with an RBI and a stolen base. Daniels finished the day 2-for-5 with a double.
The Dolphins return to the diamond at UNF Softball Complex tomorrow to close out the series with the Ospreys at 1:00 p.m.
