Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The end of the road at Harmon Stadium could not have been any sweeter for the University of North Florida baseball seniors on Sunday.
With UNF's (26-20, 15-12 Atlantic Sun Conference) 8-3 win over Jacksonville, not only did the Ospreys win an important conference series over a cross-town rival, but it also helped UNF clinch the SunTrust Old Wooden Barrel for the second season in a row in the SunTrust River City Rumble.
Senior Travis Martin ended his career at Harmon Stadium like he began it, reaching base in all four of his plate appearances and going 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Martin, T.J. Gaudy, Chad Knight, Mike P. Smith and Andy Warren were all honored before the game as this year's seniors. Warren went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Sophomore starting LHP John Atteo had one of his most solid outings of the season, allowing just one run on nine hits in 6.0 innings of work. Atteo upped his record to 5-2 to put himself in a tie for the team lead in wins.
The Ospreys didn't take any chances from the very beginning and put themselves in a comfortable 5-0 lead after the bottom of the third. Sophomore T.J. Thompson put up the first run in the bottom of the first when he scored on a Preston Hale RBI groundout, which was followed by an RBI single by Martin to drive in Knight.
Warren helped tack on another run in the bottom of the second when sophomore Michael Gropper slipped a single through the left side and the ball got by JU left fielder Kyle Fleming, which allowed Warren to cross the plate. Gropper later scored on an RBI groundout by Thompson. Martin put a pop in UNF's lead when he blasted a solo home run in the bottom of the third.
JU (24-24, 13-17) avoided the shutout in the top of the fifth with a solo home run from Thomas Myers, but the Ospreys didn't let it shake them. Instead, they turned around and let the Dolphins have more with three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Warren drove in freshman Michael R. Smith with an RBI single, which was later followed by a bases-loaded walk to Mike P. Smith. Thompson capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly, which allowed Warren to score.
The win helped the Ospreys improve to 2-1 in series against the Dolphins since reclassifying to Division I in 2006. UNF won its sixth consecutive A-Sun series and recorded at least 10 hits for the eighth straight game.
UNF now leads the SunTrust River City Rumble 10-9, which helps it wrap up the win. With only women's track remaining in the competition, the best JU can do is tie. Since UNF is the defending champion, all it needs is a tie to retain the SunTrust Old Wooden Barrel.
The road doesn't get any easier for UNF, however. Nine games remain for the Ospreys – all of which are away from home, and three are against the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the nation. UNF will return to action at 6 p.m. on Tuesday for a two-game series against second-ranked North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Ospreys will also take on the Tar Heels at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The games will be aired live on WBOB-AM 1320 in Jacksonville.
