JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - In a rematch of last season's ASUN Tournament championship game, the Eastern Kentucky University softball team is set to face No. 7 North Florida in the opening round of the ASUN Tournament.
 
Slotted as the No. 6 seed, EKU will open play Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET in a win-or-go-home matchup against the Ospreys.
 
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats available.
 
The two teams met twice in last year's ASUN Tournament, with North Florida going 2-0. Notably, the teams faced off in the championship game, where the Ospreys secured a tightly contested 5-4 victory to claim the title.
 
EKU jumped out to an early 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning, highlighted by a Jada McLeod inside-the-park home run. North Florida responded with four consecutive runs to take control. Trailing in the top of the sixth, Lilly Davis delivered a clutch double to left field to drive in two runs. Despite the Colonels' late push, the Ospreys held on to secure the championship.
 
SCOUTING THE OSPREYS
 
North Florida enters the matchup with a 36-20 overall record. The Ospreys opened the season 25-5 but went 11-13 in ASUN play. North Florida also serves as the host site for this year's ASUN Tournament and has posted a 29-7 record at home this season.
 
Offensively, Bella Cimino leads the way, batting .327 with 49 hits, six doubles, 14 home runs, 54 RBIs, and 37 runs scored. She carries a .660 slugging percentage and a team-high 99 total bases. Hallie Langford follows closely, hitting .367 with 66 hits, 13 doubles and 28 RBIs, while leading the conference with 34 stolen bases.
 
In the circle, Cameron Ponich leads the Ospreys with a 1.73 ERA and a 15-4 record across 29 appearances. She has struck out 75 batters while holding opponents to a .196 batting average.
 
North Florida enters the tournament after dropping its regular-season finale series against Jacksonville, losing 2-1.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
Last weekend, the Colonels lost their series 2-1 against Austin Peay, marking their first series loss since early April against Central Arkansas.
 
Entering the weekend, EKU was tied for first place in the Gold Division but dropped to third after losing the first two games against Austin Peay.
 
In those two losses, the Colonels were held to just one run on eight hits combined. In the series finale, EKU responded with a 3-1 victory. Jaelin Haynes delivered the decisive blow with a three-RBI double to right-center field in the top of the third inning. The Colonels held the lead the rest of the way, limiting the Governors to just one run.
 
EKU will look to avenge last year's ASUN Championship loss as it opens tournament play in a do-or-die first-round matchup.