JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The opening round of the 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) Softball Championship started this afternoon with FGCU and North Florida advancing to the double elimination portion of the bracket.

Game One: #5 FGCU (2) vs. #8 Austin Peay (1)
The Eagles earned their spot in Wednesday’s double elimination bracket play after picking up a 2-1 win over Austin Peay on Tuesday.

The Governors took an early 1-0 lead when Emilee Baker singled to second base and Ashlyn Dulaney crossed the plate in the top of the second inning. FGCU answered in the bottom of the sixth inning after Sietske Drijvers reached on a fielder’s choice at shortstop and J’Lyn Guyden came around the bases.

Mackenzie Leiti brought in the game-winning run just a few batters later when she sent a sacrifice fly to left field that brought Drijvers home for the eventual 2-1 win.

FGCU’s Julia Bacoulis recorded the win after 7.0 innings of work where she allowed just two hits and struck out eight.

The Eagles will play against No. 4 Jacksonville on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. ET. 

Game Two: #6 EKU (5) vs. #7 North Florida (8)
North Florida secured a spot in Wednesday’s action after locking up an 8-5 victory over EKU Tuesday night.

An explosive first inning had the runs coming around the bases; after North Florida opened the game with two runs from Hallie Langford and Addie Keef, EKU responded immediately with four runs on five hits from Kennedy Drafton, Emily Mariscal, Skyler Billips, Lilly Davis and Makayla Mathis in the bottom half of the first.

The Ospreys tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the third inning after Ayden Allen and Grace Shaw drove in runs. UNF regained the lead when Addyson Bruneman hit a solo shot off to left field to make it a 5-4 game in the fourth.

North Florida adding in two more runs in the top of the sixth before the Colonels gained momentum in the bottom half of the inning; with Mathis making her way around the bases, Drafton sent a sacrifice fly out to left field to allow Mathis to tag up and cut EKU’s deficit to three. But, the UNF defense held steady in the bottom of the seventh to take the 8-5 win.

Taylor Cook picked up the win going 4.1 innings with five strikeouts and just three hits allowed. Cameron Ponich recorded her third save of the season after 2.0 innings in the circle while striking out two.

The Ospreys will take on No. 3 North Alabama on Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET.

All games of the 2026 ASUN Softball Championship can be viewed on ESPN+.