JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Ryan Jackson hit her league-leading 12th home run of the year Wednesday afternoon as Bethune-Cookman Softball fell in both games of a midweek non-conference matchup against North Florida at the UNF Softball Complex. UNF claimed the first game, 8-3, and then took the nightcap, 3-1.
 
GAME ONE: UNF 8, BCU 3
Three North Florida players captured three hits a piece Tuesday afternoon as the homestanding Ospreys defeated Bethune-Cookman, 8-3 in the first game of a midweek non-conference softball doubleheader at the UNF Softball Complex in Jacksonville, Florida.
 
North Florida (19-14) wasted little time getting to Wildcats pitcher Alexis Bermudez as the Ospreys struck for six runs in the opening frame.
 
With the bases loaded and nobody out, UNF centerfielder Dominica Cocuzza appropriately unloaded the bags with a triple down the right field line to put the Ospreys up, 3-0. A two-run single through the right side by Makenzie Griffin added to the lead. The advantage would swell to 6-0 when leadoff hitter Navia Penrod's – batting for the second time in the inning, laid down a bunt single to plate Mary Rodriguez.
 
Bethune-Cookman (14-17) brought back a run in the top of the fourth inning as the Wildcats used a Jacki Smith RBI single inside the bag at third to drive home Brianna Sanders.
 
That cut into the BCU deficit, 6-1.
 
UNF added a run to make it 7-1 in the fifth.
 
But BCU countered with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning.
 
Cheyenne Smith's single up the middle began a two-out rally for the Cats. Hits from Jacki Smith and Ryan Jackson loaded the bases, allowing senior centerfielder Mariah Davis to drive in two on a single down the line in left.
 
The Ospreys used a RBI single to short from third baseman Tiffany Lower in the bottom of the inning to score Kayla McGory for the final 8-3 decision.
 
Sydney Matzko (10-9) earned the win in the pitcher's circle as she went the distance, giving up three runs (two earned) on nine hits, a walk and fanning six batters. Meanwhile, Bermudez (5-6) accepted the loss in working all six innings for the Maroon and Gold, being touched for eight runs on 14 hits, three walks and striking out a pair.
 
The Wildcats offense was led by seniors Davis and Iesha Waters who each went 2-for-4 at the dish, while using Davis' two RBIs as well.
 
GAME TWO: UNF 3, BCU 1
Bethune-Cookman sophomore right fielder Ryan Jackson registered her MEAC-leading 12th home run of the campaign Wednesday evening, but it was not enough as North Florida collected the 3-1 decision in order to sweep the day's doubleheader affair at the UNF Softball Complex in Jacksonville, Florida.
 
North Florida (20-14) broke open a pitcher's duel between the Wildcats freshman left-hander Victoria Guzman and UNF's Amanda Blanchard in the bottom of the fifth inning. The homestanding Ospreys finally got to the San Jose, California native when third baseman Tiffany Lower punched out her third home ruin of the year with a leadoff shot to right field.
 
Bethune-Cookman (14-18) immediately answered to tie the game at 1-all in the top of the sixth as sophomore Ryan Jackson – the 2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Player of the Year, delivered her league-leading 12th home run of the year with a leadoff homer of her own over the fence in right.
 
UNF would use a Dominica Cocuzza single up the middle with two outs to score Kayla McGory from second in order to advance the Ospreys back in front, 2-1. An Alex Arciola triple to the wall in right center plated Cocuzza for the 3-1 score.
 
The Cats tried to answer in the top of the seventh when hits from Alexis Bermudez and Jacki Smith put runners on the corners with two outs. But it was UNF pitcher Blanchard that got Jackson to fly out to deep right in order to seal the win.
 
In earning the win, Blanchard (5-0) pitched all seven innings in the circle for the Ospreys, allowing just the one run on six hits scattered. She also struck out four batters. The loss went to Guzman (4-6) of Bethune-Cookman as the rookie was tagged for three runs on six hits, a walk and picking up three strikeouts of her own.
 
Six different BCU batters collected a hit in the game, including the solo round-tripper from Jackson.
 
Bethune-Cookman Softball returns to action Saturday, March 24, as the Wildcats host Savannah State to Sunnyland Park for a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) series starting with Saturday's doubleheader with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
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