The University of Massachusetts softball team began its season with two losses against North Florida in a doubleheader at the UNF Softball Complex in Jacksonville, Florida, on Friday. The Ospreys took the first game 8-0 and secured a 6-0 win in the second matchup during the River City Leadoff.
With these results, UMass starts the season at 0-2, while North Florida improved to 3-0 overall.
UMass is scheduled to continue play on Saturday, February 7, with another doubleheader against Jacksonville University at 3:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
In the opening game, Lillie Scheivert, Lily Woodworth, and Olivia Packard each recorded a hit for Massachusetts. Scheivert’s double was the team’s first extra-base hit of the year. Brooke Musch contributed by drawing a walk and stealing her first base of the season.
North Florida scored early with three consecutive singles in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. After three scoreless innings for both teams, Scheivert doubled in the fourth inning for UMass’s first hit. North Florida added three runs in their half of the fourth and extended their lead with another three runs on four hits in the fifth inning to finish with an 8-0 victory due to the run rule.
Hannah Streicher (0-1) took the loss for Massachusetts, giving up four runs (two earned) on seven hits over four innings while walking two and striking out one. Macie Hunolt (1-0) pitched five shutout innings for North Florida, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out four.
In game two, Odyssey Torres had UMass’s only hit. Riain Keefe reached base after being hit by a pitch and Sofia Thormeyer drew a walk. North Florida built an early advantage with two runs in the first inning and expanded it with three more in the fourth before adding another run in the sixth.
Thormeyer worked a walk in the seventh inning as UMass tried to rally but was left stranded after a groundout ended their chances.
Kelsey Blanchette (0-1) allowed six runs (four earned) on ten hits over six innings for Massachusetts while walking six batters and striking out five. Cameron Ponich (1-0) got credit for North Florida’s win after pitching 4.2 shutout innings with one hit allowed and two strikeouts.
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