JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Despite several opportunities with runners in scoring position, Jacksonville softball fell 2-0 at North Florida in the River City Rumble series finale, Monday afternoon at UNF Softball Complex.

"We did not execute defensively to start the game like we wanted to, but we managed that situation with bases loaded and no outs [in the bottom of the first] and to only give up one run was good. We had a little momentum going into our at-bats," said Head Coach Jennifer Steele.

UNF opened up scoring in the bottom of the first with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly with no outs to take a quick 1-0 lead, but Alyssa Bilodeau worked her way out of a jam and was able to get an Osprey out looking while the following lined out to shortstop to end the inning.

The Dolphins (27-23, 5-10 ASUN) had a chance in the top of the second when Madison Ragan led off with a single into shallow right field after going deep into the count and fouling off several balls. Danielle Baker moved Ragan to second on a sac bunt and a groundout from Jordan Daniels allowed Ragan to take third, but JU was unable to capitalize.

UNF (30-22, 9-6 ASUN) added an insurance tally in the bottom of the third after Navia Penrod tagged up from third on a sacrifice fly to left field to make it 2-0 Ospreys.

Jacksonville's next opportunity came in the top of the fourth when Allie McCourt beat out the throw to first to lead off the inning and Heather Roberts followed up with a double into deep center field to get Dolphins on second and third with no outs. However, the Osprey defense kept the Dolphins in check and were able to escape the half inning without any damage.

The top of the sixth brought what seemed like a steady swing in momentum as McCourt drew a walk to lead off. Roberts followed up with a single into right field and McCourt came around to slide under the tag at home and score. Upon the challenge from the UNF dugout, the first base umpire ruled McCourt had left first base early and was therefore out and overturned Jacksonville's run.

"That cost us a run; it deflated us a bit in that moment. Heather was having an incredible at-bat; she was seeing the ball really well," lamented Steele.

Jacksonville was granted one last chance in the top of the seventh as Daniels and Makenzie Buss drew back-to-back walks and were bunted around by Kristen Griffith. However, UNF was able to hold on for the win.

Bilodeau struck out three in her third complete game of the season, but fell to 9-8 on the season. Her counterpart Logan Green improved to 13-14 in the circle.

Ragan led the Dolphins with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, while McCourt (1-for-2) and Roberts (1-for-3) also had hits for JU.

The Dolphins close out the regular season next weekend at the Debbie & Fred Pruitt Softball Complex with a crucial series against Stetson to determine the final entrant into the ASUN Tournament. The Dolphins must win two of its three remaining games to make the tournament.

JU and the Hatters square off in a doubleheader Saturday, May 6 at 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and close out the series Sunday, May 7 with a single game at 1:00 p.m.

"We're looking forward to rising up and meeting that challenge. If we go in and win the Stetson series, there is no one in the league that we haven't gotten a win against and that's been very different in the past - we've had teams totally sweep us," added Steele. "We've taken a win from everybody and we've shown that we can make two out of the three games of the series very close."