JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University Softball defeated North Florida 3-2 Sunday to complete a River City Rumble sweep.
Alyssa Bilodeau earned the win, holding the Ospreys (20-17, 0-3) to just one earned run in six and a third innings. Seana Mora logged the final two outs of the game, good for her second save of the season.
"Alyssa didn't have the command she had yesterday, but she found a way to keep us in the ballgame," JU head coach Erica Ayers said. "Seana did a great job in a high-pressure relief situation, throwing strikes and letting the defense seal the win."
The Dolphins (19-13, 3-0) had just enough timely offense to get the job done in a pitchers' duel between Bilodeau (13-4) and UNF's Sydney Matzko (10-11), who was charged with the loss.
Madison Ragan led off the second inning with a walk and moved to second on a single by Hannah Roberts, who was replaced on the basepaths by Carolyn O'Neal. A sacrifice bunt by Jordan Daniels put runners in scoring position for Kristen Griffith, who singled Ragan home. Makenzie Buss grounded into a fielder's choice to score O'Neal and give JU a 2-0 lead.
Another leadoff walk in the third, this time by Allie McCourt, set up another Dolphin score. Danielle Baker walked to put runners on first and second, and Heather Roberts reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Ragan, who was 2-for-2 on the afternoon, ripped an RBI-single, scoring McCourt and putting Jacksonville up 3-0.
"We had just enough timely hitting to get it done," Ayers said.
UNF closed the gap in the fifth. Ashley Niesman doubled to left and scored an unearned run on a single and a fielding error during the next at-bat.
In the seventh, the Ospreys put runners on first and second before Mora replaced Bilodeau in the circle for JU. A fielder's choice moved the lead runner 60 feet closer, but held the tying run at first with two out. Kayla McGory singled with runners on the corners to make it a 3-2 game, but the tying run never advanced past second because Mora pitched into game-ending fly ball.
"This was a huge step for us to be able to finish a series against a really tough opponent," Ayers said.
JU faces another tough opponent Friday as they head to Gainesville to face the sixth-ranked Florida Gators at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium at 6:30 p.m.
