April 7, 2007

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The University of North Florida baseball team blasted its way to another convincing win over Belmont on Saturday, downing the Bruins 8-2 at Harmon Stadium to claim its second straight Atlantic Sun Conference series.

UNF (15-20, 6-6 A-Sun) was bolstered by the solid pitching performance of freshman starting LHP John Atteo, who improved to 4-2 after allowing just two runs and a career-low four hits in a career-best of eight innings.

Redshirt-freshman shortstop Mycal Jones showed his ability to drive in runs as a leadoff hitter, as he led the Ospreys at the plate with three RBIs and went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two doubles and a stolen base. Senior catcher James Belyea went 1-for-4 with two RBIs. The Ospreys combined for four doubles, which was the fifth time this season they've had at least that many in a game. UNF's tally of 12 hits marked the 15th occasion this year it has totaled double-digits.

The offensive story of the game for the Ospreys proved to be the second inning when they bulldozed Bruins pitching for six runs. UNF was able to capitalize on the control problems of Belmont starting pitcher Carlo Testa (3-1), who walked both sophomore center fielder Brian Wilson and senior designated hitter Damon Olinto to begin the inning. Freshman left fielder Preston Hale made Testa pay for his wildness in the next at-bat, as Hale hammered an RBI single that drove in Wilson.

Testa walked freshman third baseman Andrew Hannon, leading the Bruins to make a pitching change and bring in Ben Meador. Meador soon found out he had his hands full with the next batter in Jones, as he belted a bases-clearing double to the gap in left center that drove in Hannon, Hale and Olinto.

Junior second baseman Chad Knight didn't allow the swelling to go down for the Bruins as he drove in Jones with an RBI single to right field. Later in the inning, senior first baseman Jimmy Glanville hit a double to reach base. Belyea made things worse for Meador in the next-bat, shooting a line drive off Meador's leg that allowed Glanville to cross the plate for an RBI single.

Senior right fielder Jon Dandridge helped take out an insurance policy in the bottom of the fourth as his RBI single helped Jones score to make the score 5-0. Jones put himself in position to score after leading off the inning with a double. Belyea capped off the inning with an RBI sacrifice fly that allowed Dandridge to score.

Atteo's only bump in the road came in the top of the fifth when Belmont's Kane Simmons hit a one-out, two-run home run to right center to make the score 8-2 in favor of the Ospreys. But Atteo was able to get back on his horse to retire the final two batters of the inning and pitch three more scoreless innings. Redshirt-freshman RHP Jonathan Turner came on in the top of the ninth to shut down the Bruins in order and struck out one in the process.

Dandridge tied his career-high in hits with three after going 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Hale finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored and two stolen bases, while Glanville ended his day with two doubles.

UNF will soar again at 7 p.m. on Tuesday when it travels to Statesboro, Ga., to take on the Georgia Southern Eagles in regionally televised non-conference action. GSU defeated UNF 13-9 on Feb. 14 in Jacksonville after mounting an improbable ninth-inning comeback. The game will be shown live on CSS (Channel 54 in Jacksonville). Live stats will be available on UNFOspreys.com.

NOTES FROM THE NEST
UNF won its third weekend series of the season ... it was the first time this season they won two consecutive weekend series ... senior Damon Olinto made a gutsy return, as he came back after missing six games with a broken left ring finger, which he is playing through ... freshman John Atteo now leads the pitching staff in wins with four ... redshirt-freshman Mycal Jones' three RBIs tied his career-high ... senior James Belyea now has a five-game hitting streak ... the Ospreys' five walks marked the 12th time this season they've received at least that many in a game ... UNF now has a string of four straight games in which they haven't grounded into a double play ... UNF's four stolen bases were the most they've recorded this season ... the Ospreys' three hitters struck out were the fewest recorded by the pitching staff in a win this season ... UNF has turned a double play in four of its last five games ... the Ospreys have won five of their last seven games.