North Florida Ospreys dispatch North Alabama 4-1 in ASUN Tournament

“We’re so good when we’re confident,” said McCarthy, the No. 9 hitter who is hitting .435 (10 for 23) in her last 12 games and has made one error all season. “We’re beating teams and we’re going to stay up there. We’re playing more as a team now.”

McCarthy made seven putouts in center against the Lions and singled and scored in UNF’s three-run second that included a steal of home by Hallie Langford. The Ospreys got their first run in the first on Ayden Allen’s RBI single, scoring Addie Keef.

UNF also isn't beating itself. The Ospreys are playing error-free ball in their first two tournament games and the pitching staff has issued only four walks.

Taylor Cook turns in another gem

Cook (9-5) pitched a four-hit complete game and allowed only one walk. She gave up a homer in the fifth to North Alabama’s Bayleigh Rouse, but aside from that, no Lions’ runner reached third base.

Taylor Cook of the University of North Florida delivers a pitch against North Alabama on May 6 at the ASUN Softball Tournament, at the UNF Softball Complex in Jacksonville. Cook threw a complete-game four-hitter in a 4-1 victory.

Cook has allowed seven hits and three walks in 11.1 innings in the tournament, with six strikeouts. Her tournament ERA is 1.59.

Conrad said he came back with Cook after she threw 4.1 innings of middle relief in an 8-5 victory over Eastern Kentucky on May 5 because of her ability to change speeds and UNA being a team of aggressive swingers: The Lions were 1 of 12 when putting the ball in play ahead of the count and 1 of 4 when chasing the first pitch.

“She has command of her off-speed stuff and I felt like that was going to be a big factor in this game,” he said. “They put some big swings on the ball, pretty aggressive and I felt Taylor was out best option.”

That means Conrad can use No. 1 starter Cameron Ponich (15-4) against Central Arkansas on two days' rest, after two innings and only 32 pitches against EKU, with Macie Hunolt (6-7) in reserve.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Pitcher Taylor Cook, CF Kalyn McCarthy lead UNF over North Alabama