Advertisement

UNF vs. JU softball: Three things to watch as ASUN contenders collide in River City Rumble

Garry Smits, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union
·3 min read
University of North Florida outfielder Shannon Glover connects during a recent game against Florida Gulf Coast.
University of North Florida outfielder Shannon Glover connects during a recent game against Florida Gulf Coast.

Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida are in the thick of the ASUN softball race at midseason.

They will take the fight to each other beginning Friday when they play a three-game set at JU's Pruitt Softball Complex.

UNF (27-13, 11-4) and JU (20-19, 10-5) meet at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. The Dolphins have momentum on their side, with nine victories in their last 11 games, while the Ospreys have split their last 10.

Madison Bratek of Jacksonville University leads the Dolphins with a .308 average and 19 stolen bases entering the weekend series against the University of North Florida.
Madison Bratek of Jacksonville University leads the Dolphins with a .308 average and 19 stolen bases entering the weekend series against the University of North Florida.

JU holds a 30-21 edge in the rivalry with UNF and won the last two games in 2023. However, the two teams are 5-5 in the last 10 meetings and the Ospreys historically have played JU tough on the road, battling them to a 16-16 record at the Pruitt Complex.

Here are three keys to the River City Rumble in softball:

It might be an offensive battle

The Ospreys enter the series leading the ASUN in home runs (28) and are third in slugging percentage (.391), fourth in hitting (.262) and second for fewest strikeouts (3.7 per game). Junior pitcher/infielder Allison Benning leads the ASUN with 11 homers and a .690 slugging percentage and is second with 34 RBI and graduate outfielder Shannon Glover has four homers and 29 RBI.

The Dolphins are eighth in hitting in the conference (.244) but make things happen on the bases. Led by junior outfielder Madison Bartek, a Creekside graduate with 19 stolen bases in 20 attempts, JU is third in stolen bases.

But both teams have the pitching staff to keep the games low-scoring. UNF is fourth in the ASUN with a 2.88 ERA and JU is fifth at 3.01. The Ospreys are second in strikeouts per game with 6.2.

Who's trending?

UNF: Benning is on a 7-for-16 streak (.437) with three homers and seven RBI in her last six games. On the mound she has struck out 33 batters in her last 22 innings. ... Junior 2B Hadlee Reichert is 5-for-11 (.454) in her last four games. ... Graduate pitcher Hallie Arends has not given up an earned run in her last four appearances, covering 22 innings.

JU: Madison Bratek is hitting .417 (15 for 26) in her last 10 ASUN games. ... Senior catcher/1B Kailey Harrigan went 5 for 7 last weekend against Stetson, with three RBI. ... Graduate pitcher Shelby Harpe has a 1.55 ERA in her last 18 innings, allowing only four hits.

Assessing the ASUN race

So far, everyone is chasing Eastern Kentucky (14-1). But the Ospreys are tied for second with Florida Gulf Coast and JU is alone in fourth, a game ahead of North Alabama.

There's strong incentive to stay among the top four in the league. Under the ASUN tournament format, eight teams qualify but Nos. 5-8 will play single-elimination games, the third and fourth seeds have a first-round bye and the first and second seeds have double byes.

The ASUN tournament will be May 7-11 in Oxford, Ala.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Offense might dominate as UNF faces JU in softball River City Rumble