Ospreys wrap up season at home

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – This week at Harmon Stadium, the University of North Florida baseball team will host its final three games of the season against Kennesaw State, its oldest rival, in an attempt to finish the season with a winning Atlantic Sun Conference mark for the third time in four years in the league.

Action begins Thursday with a single game at 7 p.m., and the two finish the three-game set with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Friday. When the series ends, UNF and KSU will have faced off 57 times, dating back to UNF's first season of baseball (1988).

The Ospreys will look to stay in the picture of a would-be A-Sun Tournament appearance (ineligible due to NCAA Division I reclassification rules) while the Owls will be in search of an A-Sun regular season title in the A-Sun's final week of play. The Owls are also ineligible for postseason play due to transfer rules but can still claim the regular season crown.

UNF currently sits in the seventh position, only one game out of a three-way tie for the fourth spot. Florida Gulf Coast tops the ranks with a two and a half game lead over KSU. The Owls would capture the regular season nod with three wins against UNF and three FGCU losses to Stetson.

In its last six A-Sun contests, UNF has split the decisions, taking two of three from USC Upstate last weekend after dropping a pair to Stetson. The Ospreys also split a pair of games against South Florida in the past week, both by an 11-6 score.

The Ospreys will honor seven seniors in their season-ending series opener Thursday night (John Frawley, Antonio Franzese, Mike Gottlieb, Spencer Jones, Ty Pryor, Phil Rorabaugh and Brian Wilson).

What: Baseball vs. Kennesaw State

When: Thursday – 7 p.m.; Friday – 1 p.m. (doubleheader)

Where: Harmon Stadium

Live Stats: Click here

UNF's Record: 22-29, 14-13 A-Sun

KSU's Record: 28-21, 18-8 A-Sun

Series History: UNF leads, 31-23

Last Season: KSU swept doubleheader, 3-1 and 5-2 (May 10); UNF won 6-5 (May 11) – played in Kennesaw, Ga.

Who's Hot: Junior David Eldredge made three starts behind the plate last week and has played in four of UNF's last five games, leading the squad with a .545 batting average. With an on-base percentage of .643, he has scored four runs in 11 official at bats and knocked six hits. He has also drawn three walks and provided two sacrifice bunts.

Notables: Junior Justin Preckajlo has carried a big stick over the past five games, running up a 1.083 slugging percentage and a .542 batting average … he cracked three home runs, two doubles and a triple in the stint, scoring eight runs and driving in 10 … UNF is 15-13 in day games this season and 7-16 in night games … Frawley has a career-high seven wins this season and leads the team with the nation's 72^nd-best ERA (3.22) … he has also earned two A-Sun Player of the Week honors this season … UNF will finish the season with a losing record for just the second time (2007) in 13 seasons ... the Ospreys have had only three losing seasons (1996) in their 22-season program history.

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