Sophomore Alisha Phillips hurls in a pitch during the Ospreys' 8-7 loss at the UNF Softball Complex Feb. 28 against the University of South Carolina Alken. The loss was the first in 10 games for the UNF softball team.

     After a full week's rest, the University of North Florida softball team ended its winning streak of 10 games at home Feb. 28 in the first of a two-game split against the University of South Carolina Aiken.
     "I think we're a better team than we showed," coach Sonya Wilmoth said. "We should have taken that series. They hit the ball well, though. I have to give them a little credit."
     The Pacers handed the Ospreys their first loss since Feb. 7 by a score of 8-7 to open up the doubleheader. Aiken's four runs in the top of the seventh inning erased a 7-4 lead for UNF, a score that was built mostly on unearned runs from both sides.
     The Ospreys allowed the first four unearned runs in the top of the first after junior right fielder Lauren Daily dropped a fly ball that would have ended the inning.
     UNF answered back sharply in the bottom of the second with six runs of its own, five of which went in unearned. The Ospreys took advantage of a fielding error, as well, scoring those five runs after an error by USC Aiken's Temeka Floyd extended their inning.
     Freshman Kelli Rutenbar capped off the scoring for UNF in the second with a two-RBI single to left field. Senior Cari Chewning, freshman Christina Evans and junior Laura Hanstein each recorded an RBI of their own during that inning.
     Hanstein, who started the scoring, ended it for UNF in the fifth inning with her second RBI of the day on a single to left field. Alongside Rutenbar, she led UNF from the plate, both going two-for-four with two RBIs and a run.
     "I'm new to the conference, so I don't take anybody lightly," Hanstein said. "After seeing how they hit in the first inning, I didn't think that they couldn't come back."
     Sophomore Alisha Phillips, who pitched all seven innings, finally gave in during the final inning, giving up all four of her earned runs in the seventh on five Pacer hits. Phillips threw six strikeouts while allowing nine hits and eight runs, half unearned.
     Chewning then pitched the second game, a shutout beauty from the senior pitcher who slammed the Pacers with her arm and bat in a 2-0 Ospreys win.
     With the UNF defense playing error-free behind her, Chewning threw all seven innings with 12 strikeouts in a two-hit shutout for the Osprey pitching staff. After a pair of back-to-back hits with two down in the first inning, she regrouped and gave a seat to all 19 batters she faced from then on.
     "Because Alisha [Phillips] pitched the first game, I know she throws lots outside, so I knew that they were hitting, and that must be what they were looking for," Chewning said. "And my favorite pitch to throw is inside."
     While Chewning was showcasing her All-Peach Belt Conference arm in the pitcher's circle, her bat helped her along to her eighth win of the season with an RBI single to center field in the first inning to put UNF on the board.
     Sophomore Danielle Weaver's sacrifice fly to left field knocked in Evans, who reached home on a walk, giving the Ospreys the 2-0 upper-hand, all the UNF defense needed.
     The split pushed the Ospreys' record to 14-2, 3-1 in PBC action. They now look to a March 3 doubleheader against Northwood University at home, starting at 3 p.m. They will then travel March 5-6 to Salisbury, N.C., for the Catawba Invitational.