JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Central Arkansas softball team (19-12, 4-3 ASUN) saw its four-game winning streak snapped in game one of its ASUN series against North Florida (27-10). After waiting out a five-hour weather delay, the bats never quite got going, as the Bears fell 2-0.
 
Starting a smidgen early in an attempt to beat the rain, neither team put more than a single batter on base through the first three innings. Both pitchers opened well, with Kayla Beaver getting the start for the Bears, striking out two of the first three batters in the first inning. From there, Beaver kept batters guessing, keeping everything in front of the defense and minimizing the impact of Osprey batters.
 
Central Arkansas threatened to score in the fourth, earning a single from Mary Kate Brown and walks from Kylie Griffin and Tylar Vernon, loading the bases with two outs. Changing pitchers, North Florida was able to battle out of the jam just before lightning halted the game.
 
After five hours of waiting on the rain, the teams came back out for the bottom of the fourth. As quickly as the teams took the field, the Ospreys connected on a single and a two-run homer, representing the only runs of the game.
 
The Bears put runners on in each of the fifth and sixth innings, even advancing runners into scoring position, but were unable to round the bases and bring any runs in to score.
 
The teams will pick up a doubleheader on Sunday, after not being able to complete the original schedule on Saturday. Play will start at 9 a.m. CT.