The University of North Florida will play at Jacksonville University April 30-May 2 at JU's Pruitt Softball Complex (each game begins at 7 p.m.) in the second of two three-game sets and the final ASUN softball series of the season for both teams.
Both teams have qualified for the ASUN Tournament, clinching spots among the top four teams in the Graphite Division. Stetson (16-5) has a two-game lead over the Dolphins (14-7), with Florida Gulf Coast (13-8) and UNF (10-11) next.
The Ospreys, the defending champions, are in danger of drawing a single-elimination game to open the tournament on their home field.
JU has a chance to grab the top overall seed by winning at least two games over the Ospreys. Stetson plays host to Florida Gulf Coast and Eastern Kentucky and Central Arkansas are both 13-6-1 in the Gold Division.
Once the top four teams in each division are decided, the best overall record is the No. 1 seed in the tournament, which is May 5-9 at UNF. The Nos. 1 and 2 seeds get double-byes to start the tournament.
With JU and UNF in a three-game softball series and the baseball teams playing at UNF May 1-3, every victory counts for the Old Wooden Barrel. UNF holds an 8-7.5 lead in the rivalry, with each baseball and softball game counting for a half-point.
The Dolphins won the series two games to one at UNF, with a 7-6 victory in eight inning and a 7-5 victory to bookend a 12-4 loss in five innings to the Ospreys.
JU has gone 12-4 since that series (11-4 in the ASUN) and UNF has gone 9-8 (9-6 in the ASUN).
JU: C Sarah Beth Brake has hit in 19 of her last 20 games and is hitting .448 over that span, with six homers, 26 RBI and 14 runs; RF Alison Carter is hitting .382 over her last 12 games (13 for 34) with 19 RBI; RHP Jacy Harrelson has a 1.12 ERA with 44 strikeouts and only 10 hits allowed in her last 50.1 innings pitched.
UNF: LF Hallie Langford is hitting .456 in her last 13 games (21 for 46), with 17 runs and 10 RBI; SS Bella Cimino is hitting .417 in her last 12 games (15 of 36), with 13 runs and 16 RBI; SS Addie Keef is on a seven-game hitting streak and has hit safely in 13 of her last 14 games. She is batting .408 during that span (17 of 42) with 10 runs.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: UNF-JU softball series has ASUN, River City Rumble implications