2008 Ospreys solidify winning legacy

Friday, May 16

Boiling Springs, N.C.

1:00 PM

University of North Florida

28-26, 17-15

Gardner-Webb

26-27, 15-17

North Florida

Gardner-Webb

Senior Chad Knight finished his career tied for ninth on the UNF career hits list.

5/16/2008 7:26:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

UNF victorious in final game

By: Eric Scott, UNF Athletics

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Winners are always remembered by their last action. And the University of North Florida baseball team made exactly sure it would go down in the UNF record books as victors with its 8-0 win in its final game of the season against Gardner-Webb on Friday.

Behind the masterful pitching performance of junior starting RHP John Frawley, the Ospreys (29-26, 18-15 Atlantic Sun Conference) recorded their first shutout of the season and became the first team in UNF's Division I history to end its season with a win. It took Frawley just 62 pitches to baffle the Bulldogs for 7.0 innings, allowing just seven hits. He combined with junior RHP Tyler Stohr, who didn't allow a hit in 2.0 innings, to pick up the shutout.

Senior Chad Knight recorded two hits in the second game of the doubleheader and finished his career tied for ninth all-time on the UNF career hits list with 183. Sophomore T.J. Thompson led UNF at the plate, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs, a double and two runs scored.

In the top of the third, senior Mike P. Smith led it off with a double to left center and later scored on a Thompson double. Senior T.J. Gaudy later drove in Thompson with an RBI single to center.

UNF went up 5-0 in the top of the seventh on an unusual sacrifice fly by senior Travis Martin. After Martin flew out to deep right field, the Bulldogs tried to throw out sophomore Preston Hale, who tried to go to second on the play, but an errant throw by GWU third baseman Justin Loyd allowed both Knight and Hale to score.

Thompson tacked on two more in the top of the eighth on an RBI single through the right side of the infield, which allowed sophomore Michael Gropper and senior Andy Warren to score. In the top of the ninth, Gaudy put another run on the board with an RBI groundout.

The Ospreys dropped the first game of the day by a score of 11-6. UNF was able to tie it at five after falling behind 3-0, but a five-run sixth by the Bulldogs kept the Ospreys out of contention. Sophomore Ryan Lowe recorded a team-high two RBIs, two runs scored and two doubles in the game.

All five UNF seniors finished their day with at least one hit and an RBI or run scored. Gaudy, Knight, Martin and Warren each finished their season with a batting average over .300. Along with Smith, they led the Ospreys to the most victories over ranked teams in UNF's Division I history with four.

Gaudy finished his day with three RBIs, while Martin drove in two runs. Gaudy and Knight ended their seasons on an eight-game hitting streak.

UNF finished its season winning eight of 11 conference series. With the win, the Ospreys solidified a fourth place finish in the A-Sun and could still finish tied for third if Lipscomb loses its second game against Campbell. It is the third season in a row UNF would have qualified for the A-Sun Tournament if it was eligible for postseason competition.