JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Game one of the ASUN Championship did not go according to plan for the Central Arkansas softball team, who dropped a 5-3 decision in extra innings Thursday morning. Despite not playing their best game, the Bears had opportunities to capture the win.
 
With the loss, the Bears (33-19, 17-7 ASUN) still have an opportunity for redemption later in the tournament. As part of the double-elimination style of the ASUN Tournament, Central Arkansas now has to play with its back against the wall as the team makes its way through the field with no margin for error.
 
Thursday morning started with a couple of clean innings, as the strength of the pitching staffs started the game with some hitless softball. Kylie Griffin earned the first hit of the game on a single in the second inning, but the Bears weren't able to make anything of the early opportunity.
 
North Florida started the scoring in the top of the third, piecing together back-to-back singles and taking extra bases to put runners in scoring position with nobody out. On the third at bat of the top half of the frame, the Ospreys pulled off the sacrifice fly, scoring one run to establish a lead.
 
Undeterred, the Bears methodically put runners on in the bottom half of the third. Tylar Vernon opened up the home half by reaching on an error, one that would prove costly for North Florida. Reagan Sperling moved her to second on a sacrifice bunt, and Jenna Wildeman followed it up with a single that allowed Vernon to move to third. After Wildeman stole second for her 96^th career steal, Mary Kate Brown walked to load the bases with two outs. The Bears would score on Jaylee Engelkes' next at bat, as the Second-Team All-ASUN performer pushed a single through the right side to bring home Vernon and Wildeman.
 
The Ospreys answered the Bears and reclaimed the lead in the top half of the fourth, putting a runner on and following it up with a two-run home run to take a 3-2 lead. Making a switch at pitcher, Kayla Beaver came in and got out of the inning without allowing any more damage to be done.
 
Central Arkansas would have to wait until the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game again. Sperling led off with a double to right center, fighting back from an 0-2 count to quickly put pressure on the Ospreys' pitcher. Wildeman advanced her fellow outfielder to third with a sacrifice bunt, and then Tremere Harris drove her in on a ground out, equalizing the score at three runs aside.
 
The Bears threatened in the seventh, putting a runner on with one out and heading back to the top of the lineup, but the Ospreys were able to work themselves out of the jam.
 
North Florida put two runs through in the top of the eighth, changing lead for the fourth time in the ballgame. With two outs, the Ospreys put a single through the middle to score the two runs, which the Bears couldn't answer.
 
Central Arkansas now has a chance to regroup and recover, playing again Thursday evening against the loser of Liberty and North Alabama. While Liberty would be a new opponent for the Bears, Central Arkansas took two of three from North Alabama a couple of weeks ago in the team's final road series.