DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Fresh off an opening weekend participating in the NFCA Leadoff Classic presented by MaxBP in Clearwater, Florida, Bethune-Cookman Softball is set for the 2025 home opener on Wednesday, Feb. 12, as the Ospreys of North Florida descend upon Sunnyland Park for a nonconference doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m.
 


Weds., Feb. 12
5 p.m. – vs. North Florida | Live Stats
7 p.m. – vs. North Florida | Live Stats
 


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▪ Head Coach Laura Watten is just five wins away from her 800th career victory.
▪ As a program, B-CU is 14 wins from its 550th win all-time since 1997.
▪ Freshman first baseman Molly Blackwood was named the female Wildcat of the Week (February 3-9).
▪ The Wildcats lost a pair of one-run games last weekend in the NFCA Leadoff Classic, including a 3-2 walk-off setback to No. 24 Mississippi State.
▪ Halyne Gonzalez was named to the NFCA Leadoff Classic All-Tournament Team as a pitcher.
▪ Wednesday's doubleheader against UNF will be the earliest home game for the Wildcats since opening the 2007 season at home to Savannah State.
▪ Junior outfielder Emma Bradley-Tse had three hits last weekend, including a double and an RBI, while recording a perfect fielding percentage in left field.
▪ Sophomore pitcher Sofia Vallejos-Coleman had two great outings against No. 19 Nebraska and No. 24 Mississippi State. The Vallejo, California native allowed just one run against the Cornhuskers in 1.2 innings tossed, adding a strikeout. She then went three innings against the Bulldogs of MSU with just a run allowed on two hits and a strikeout as well.
 


▪ North Florida owns a commanding 20-5 advantage in the all-time series between the two sides dating back to 2007.
▪ The Ospreys have won the last five meetings, respectively, including a 3-1 decision in the last meeting back on March 8, 2023, in Jacksonville.
▪ The last game between the two teams in Daytona Beach occurred back on April 12, 2017, with the Wildcats winning the opening game of a doubleheader, 2-1. The Ospreys won the nightcap, 8-0.
▪ In all, four of B-CU's five wins since 2007 against UNF have come in the friendly confines of Sunnyland Park.
 


"Coach [Jeff] Conrad does a tremendous job up there at UNF. They've been to ASUN Tournament title games and all that. You know when one of his teams comes to your place, or you go to their house, you're in for a great game or games, as the case may be."
 
"I was impressed by some things we did very well last weekend in Clearwater. But, as a coach, I also have to assess the things we can do better, obviously. We've been working at practice to continue on the good, and to try and eliminate the negatives."
 
"It's different opening up at home so early in the season, since we've been on the road for what seems like months over the last few seasons. I love being able to have a game at Sunnyland, and to have our students and fans turn up and enjoy the atmosphere which is unlike anywhere else. And now, with the new lights installed, we can play night games once again. That energy is going to be electric; I can tell you that,"
 


NORTH FLORIDA (4-2, 0-0 ASUN)
Rankings: USA Today/NFCA Coaches – NR | ESPN.com/USA Softball – NR
Head Coach: Jeff Conrad (3rd season)
2025 Batting Average: .252; Runs Per Game: 3.8; Hits Per Game: 5.5; Slugging Percentage: .359
2025 ERA: 2.31; K/BB Ratio: 3.0; Opp. Batting Avg: .211
 


Bethune-Cookman stays in the "Sunshine State" with a trip to the western half of Volusia County, as the Wildcats take part in the Hatter Classic hosted by Stetson in DeLand. The Wildcats will face teams from Fairfield, Stetson and Wofford across the three-day event, which begins Friday, Feb. 14.

ADMISSIONS
All home games at Sunnyland Park are free.