Ospreys win 10-3 rumble over JU

Friday, May 4

Jacksonville, Fla.

6:30 PM

University of North Florida

18-27, 0

Jacksonville

24-23, 0

North Florida

Jacksonville

5/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 4, 2007

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The University of North Florida baseball team used a five-run seventh inning to pull away from Jacksonville and claim a 10-3 win on Friday evening at John Sessions Stadium.

UNF (18-27, 8-11 Atlantic Sun Conference) moved just one win away from claiming the Old Wooden Barrel in the SunTrust River City Rumble. The Ospreys snapped a three-game losing streak to the cross-town rival Dolphins and won their first game at JU since reclassifying to Division I.

Senior LHP Brad Johnson (4-6) finally got the support he needed and took advantage of it, allowing just two runs on six hits while fanning three batters. Coming into the game, Johnson's run support was just one run in his losses. The highlight of Johnson's night came in the bottom of the fourth when he stood on the mound with no fear and snagged a hot shot at his head from JU's Logan James.

Junior Travis Martin exploded at the plate with two RBIs, a double and two runs scored. Junior Chad Knight was another important piece of the puzzle, finishing 2-for-3 with two runs.

The Ospreys got things started in the seventh when Martin drove in Knight on an RBI double. Freshman TJ Thompson knocked in another run on a single to left. JU's Chuck Opachich and Mike McCallister committed two errors in the same sequence to help redshirt freshman Mycal Jones and sophomore Brian Wilson score and extend UNF's lead to 7-2.

UNF padded its lead with three more runs in the top of the ninth, which proved to be more than enough for sophomore RHP Antonio Franzese, who picked up his first career save when he tossed three solid innings in relief of Johnson. He allowed one run on three hits and struck out three batters.

Jimmy Glanville helped the Ospreys take a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth when he slid into home on a wild pitch by Young. He led off the inning with a double over Kevin Ferreira's head in center field and advanced to third base after a single by Chad Knight.

Martin got UNF on the board in the second inning on an RBI single through the right side of the infield that allowed Glanville to cross the plate and tie the score at one. It was Martin's first RBI since March 31 when he drove in three runs against Lipscomb.

JU took the game's first lead in the bottom of the first when Pete Clifford hit an RBI single through the right side. Johnson was robbed of an out in the inning when an errant throw by Knight allowed Mike McCallister to reach base.

The Dolphins (24-23, 9-10) committed six errors and only three of their runs allowed were earned. Justin Young (4-4) picked up the loss after 6.2 innings of work.

The teams will rumble again at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at John Sessions Stadium. Live stats will be available on UNFOspreys.com, and the game will be broadcast live on WBOB-AM 1320 in Jacksonville.