Feb. 9, 2007

Box Score

CONWAY, S.C. - The University of North Florida baseball team struggled to get its bats going and committed costly mistakes against Coastal Carolina, as the Ospreys dropped their season opener 8-1 at Watson Stadium on Friday.

UNF's lone run came in the top of the ninth inning when freshman outfielder Preston Hale hit a grounder to second that drove in freshman third baseman Paul Morales. After Coastal Carolina scored one run in the bottom of the first, the Ospreys seemed poised to answer in the top of the second when a walk by junior outfielder T.J. Gaudy loaded the bases. But junior second baseman Chad Knight wasn't able to capitalize on the opportunity, as he fouled out to first to end the inning.

The Chanticleers built a comfortable lead with a three-run bottom of the second, which was highlighted by a two-run triple courtesy of CCU's David Sappelt. Coastal (1-0) tacked on two more runs each in the sixth and eighth innings to take an 8-0 lead. CCU's two-run sixth was sparked by a throwing error from Belyea, who tried to pick off the runner at third.

Mistakes were not limited to fielding for UNF, as Belyea was caught stealing third base in the fourth inning when the Chanticleers' catcher picked up a ball in the dirt and fired it to third. Redshirt freshman second baseman Mycal Jones also had a tough time on the base paths, getting tagged out at second base in the top of the sixth after trying to stretch out a single.

Ospreys senior starting RHP Brad Johnson, who was named to the Preseason All-Atlantic Sun team, had a tough first outing on the mound, surrendering four earned runs in five innings and striking out one.

Senior catcher James Belyea went 3-for-4 at the plate, and Morales went 2-for-2 with one run scored in his collegiate debut.

North Florida (0-1) will jump back into action tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. to take on the No. 8-ranked Virginia Cavaliers, who beat Elon 10-3 in Friday's first game of the Springmaid Beach Resort Tournament.