Following a four-game winning streak, the Bears — 19-14, 4-5 ASUN — lost all three games in their April 2-3 series against North Florida.

The Bears entered the series ranking at the top of the ASUN offense, having outscored its opponents 31-4 during the winning streak.

Falling 2-0 in the first game of the series, the Bears endured a multi-hour weather delay, after falling short in the first half of the game. 

Sophomore Kayla Beaver struck out the first three batters. Beavers was recently awarded ASUN pitcher of the week, marking her first award of the season. Beaver holds the 5th lowest conference earned runs on average, allowing only 2.27. 

In the fourth inning, a single from freshman Mary Kate Brown and two walks from sophomore Tyler Vernon gave the Bears a glimmer of hope, but it was lost as the Ospreys scored another run.

Despite continually getting runners in the last two innings, the Bears could not bring any runs in to score.

In the double-header finale, the Bears fell once again to North Florida 1-0 in the first game and 3-2 in the second. 

In the first three innings of game one, Mary Kate Brown and freshman Jenna Wildeman were the only players to get on base for the Bears.

Both teams struggled to advance runners and get them on throughout the middle of the game.

In the 7th inning, freshman Kylie Griffin and sophomore Erin Blackburn snagged singles.

The Ospreys won the first game with a single that drove in a runner from second.

The second game of the day also saw the Bears falling 3-2 in a markedly more exciting match, with both teams scoring in the first two innings — marking both teams’ first scores before the 4th inning in the series. 

Griffin evened the score in the second inning when she quickly passed to second, got to third on a groundout and came home on account of an ambitious pitch.

In the third and fourth innings, the Ospreys grabbed two more runs, retaking the lead. 

Kylie Griffin earned a single in the fifth inning, moving to second. Junior Reagan Sperling pushed Griffin to third with a single.

In an effort to tie the Ospreys, Blackburn singled in the first part of the 7th inning. Blackburn made it to second on a sacrifice bunt made by Griffin. Teammate Reagan Sperling sent Blackburn to third with her second single of the game. Griffin eventually made it home, earning the Bears a second run.

The bases were loaded with one out, but the Ospreys’ defense held firm, and they ended the game 3-2. 

North Florida has shown to be a strong conference contender with multiple wins against Power 5 opponents such as Michigan and Rutgers. The Ospreys managed to bring home 25 wins before the team hit 10 losses. Their record now lies at 29-10, 8-4 ASUN.

Coming up, the Bears will be hosting a three-game series against Bellarmine on April 8-9.