Box Score

April 2, 2006

Box Score

MACON, Ga. - Blake Quarles worked seven innings and stuck out nine North Florida batters, leading Mercer to a 3-1 victory over the Ospreys on Sunday afternoon at Claude Smith Field.

The Bears (20-15, 7-5 A-Sun) jumped on the Ospreys with two runs in the first inning with an RBI single by Josh Thompson, and Eric Renfroe grounded into a fielder's choice to plate Shawn Barrett with the other run. UNF (17-14, 10-5 A-Sun) took advantage of two Mercer errors in the top of third inning to cut into the lead when Brennan Grogan lifted a sacrifice fly to center field - allowing Grant Rogers to come home.

Mercer was threatening in the bottom of the fourth, but right fielder Brett Maloley gunned down Renfroe at the plate and UNF catcher James Belyea picked off Billy Shaughnessy at third base to end the inning.

The Bears added an unearned run in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Renfroe that scored Tyler McCarty before turning it over to the top closer in the conference - Andrew Urena - in the eighth inning. Urena didn't allow a hit and stuck out two en route to earning his eighth save of the season.

Jeremy Papelbon (2-2) took the loss after working 6.1 innings and allowing seven hits and three runs - two of which were earned. His brother, Josh Papelbon, pitched the rest of the way and recorded four strikeouts.

Mercer's Mark Jarvis went 2-for-2 to lead the Bears' offensive attack, while Belyea and Andrew Chapman were the only Osprey batters with a hit.

UNF will return to action on Tuesday when it welcomes the University of Florida to the Jacksonville Baseball Grounds. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. and tickets can be purchased online at www.jaxsuns.com.