Boxscore

 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team completed the three-game sweep of USC Upstate with a 14-0 victory at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.  UNF improved to 20-15 overall and 9-3 in the Atlantic Sun, while Upstate fell to 9-27 overall and 1-14 in the A-Sun. 

 

“We played pretty good defense and our pitchers going out there and keeping them down, we have been waiting for that for a while,” head coach Dusty Rhodes commented after the game.  “We have been pitching a little bit better and a little bit better.  They did a good job and right now we are doing pretty well in the conference.  Now, we have to go to Kennesaw State and try to win that series which will be tough.”

 

The Ospreys received a complete game from starting pitcher John Atteo, marking the third complete game by the UNF pitching staff during the weekend.  After UNF held the Spartans scoreless in the final inning of the first game, North Florida threw back-to-back shutouts for 19 consecutive innings without allowing a run. 

 

Atteo scattered eight hits in 9.0 innings of work.  He did not allow a run or a walk, while striking out four batters.  The win was the second of the week for Atteo, who earned the victory over No. 7 Florida State in a controlled start against the Seminoles in the Ospreys' 3-1 victory on Tuesday at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. 

 

Offensively, North Florida collected 12 hits on the day, including two home runs and a pair of doubles.  Seniors Justin Preckajlo and T.J. Thompson each recorded home runs on the day.  The duo each has eight home runs on the season, to lead the team.  Preckajlo also added a double and two runs scored.  Preston Hale recorded a double that scored three runs.  Senior David Eldredge finished the game 3-for-3 with two runs scored, reaching base five times on the day. 

 

North Florida was the first team to score as the Ospreys plated four runs in the fourth inning with two outs.  Justin Preckajlo led off the inning with a double to left field.  David Eldredge followed with a walk to give the Ospreys a pair of base runners.  After back-to-back strikeouts, Sam Perry singled up the middle to give UNF a 1-0 lead.  Michael Smith golfed a ball into shallow left field.  Eldredge came around to score on the Texas League single.  T.J. Gavlik kept the inning alive as he reached base on a throwing error by the Upstate shortstop.  Perry and Smith came around to score on the error, giving UNF a 4-0 advantage. 

 

The Ospreys added three runs to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.  With one out, Preckajlo hit his team-leading eighth home run of the season.  Eldredge singled up the middle to extend the inning.  T.J. Thompson followed with his eighth homer of the year to tie Preckajlo and give UNF a 7-0 edge. 

 

UNF added three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to provide the final margin of victory.  With one out, the Ospreys drew back-to-back-to-back walks to load the bases.  Preston Hale delivered a three-run double to right center field to give UNF a 10-0 lead. 

 

North Florida returns to action with a midweek game against Bethune-Cookman at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.  The Ospreys will look for the program's 900th victory as they take on the Wildcats at 7 p.m.