Box Score (PDF)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - University of Hartford (1-0) starting pitcher Kyle Gauthier needed just two runs of support to lead his Hawks to a 2-1 victory over North Florida (3-3). The right-hander scattered seven hits in a complete game win.

Gauthier was dominant from the start and didn't surrender a hit until the fourth inning. He threw just 88 pitches and struck out six batters. The complete game was the third of his career.

Hartford received its offense on one swing, a two-run home run by Chris DelDebbio in the top of the third inning. With two outs, David MacKinnon kept the inning alive with a single to left center. DelDebbio belted the first pitch he saw over the left centerfield wall to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead.

Junior Bryan Baker was charged with the loss despite six, solid innings. The hard throwing righty fanned a career-high seven batters and walked only one. After giving up the long ball, Baker settled in, allowing only two more hits over the next 3.1 innings of work.

The Ospreys cut the lead in half in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI single by Keith Skinner. The senior was 3-for-3 with his fourth RBI of the year. Junior Alex Merritt continued to swing it well with two hits in four at bats. He has multiple hits in three of his last four games.

The Harford 2-3-4 hitters, MacKinnon, DelDebbio and Erik Ostberg, accounted for six of the eight Hartford hits. Ostberg started his 2016 season with a 3-for-4 showing that included a double in the eighth. DelDebbio, who hit five home runs in 2015, finished the night 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Junior Matthew Naylor locked down the final three innings for North Florida, tossing three scoreless frames and allowing just two hits. He struck out four of the 11 batters he faced.

The middle game of a three-game set is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch on Saturday. The Ospreys will send sophomore Matt Vaka (0-1) to the hill and he will be opposed by righty John LaRossa. Fans can play "baseball bingo" during Saturday's game for prizes.