Box Score (PDF)
DeLAND, Fla. – Starting pitcher Matt Vaka was brilliant in this afternoon's 5-0 victory over Stetson (24-25, 8-7, A-Sun). North Florida (35-13, 11-4 A-Sun) won its seventh-straight game and now have swept two Atlantic Sun opponents this season.
 
The weekend showdown that featured the top two teams in the A-Sun went in favor of the Ospreys who now sit alone with a two-game lead over second-place Lipscomb. Today marks the first time North Florida has taken all three against Stetson since joining the league in 2006. The Ospreys have now won six of the last seven games against the Hatters.
 
In just his 10^th start, Vaka put together his longest outing of the season, pitching 6.2 innings. The true freshman worked around two runners in the first inning and surrendered a hit to lead-off the second inning. From there, he settled in and retired the next 14 batters in a row. He finished his day with three strikeouts and surrendered just three hits. He improved to 3-0 on the season and lowers his 2015 ERA to 1.35.
 
The Osprey offense gave him an early, 1-0 lead thanks to a RBI single by Nick Karmeris in the top of the third inning. The Atlantic Sun's top home-run hitting team flexed its muscle in the fourth when Corbin Olmstead blasted his 11^th long ball of the year over the right center field wall. The two-run homer gave the Ospreys a 3-0 advantage.
 
The North Florida run scoring was capped in the top of the fifth thanks to the clutch hitting of Ryan Roberson. He delivered a two-out RBI single that scored Patrick Ervin and eventually Donnie Dewees on an error. Roberson attempted take second base on the throw from the outfield but catcher Austin Hale's throw scurried into center field allowing Dewees to score. The two-run play gave the Ospreys a 5-0 lead.
 
The RBI was Roberson's fifth of the series and he finished the day 2-for-4 with a run scored. Catcher Keith Skinner had another impressive Sunday afternoon, with a 3-for-5 effort at the plate. Two weeks ago he set the new school single game record with nine RBIs.
 
Reliever Matthew Naylor preserved the shutout for Vaka by pitching the final 2.1 innings. He struck out three batters and did not allow a hit. He also pitched in Vaka's previous combined shutout against Lipscomb on April 12.
 
The Ospreys will be back on the road on Wednesday to close a midweek series with Savannah State before traveling up to Spartanburg for a three-game series against USC Upstate.