Box Score (PDF)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The North Florida (7-7) offense racked up 16 hits in a 13-1 rout of UNC-Wilmington (9-4) in second game of a three-game series at Harmon Stadium. Osprey starting pitcher
Tyler DuPont gave up just three hits in eight innings to earn the victory.
DuPont worked eight innings for the third time his career and kept one of the nation's most potent offenses in check all afternoon. The lefty threw just 89 pitches, surrendered only one run on three hits and struck out four. Coming into the series, the Seahawks ranked second in the country with 9.9 runs per game.
It was the Osprey offense who provided all the fireworks and they spotted DuPont a seven-run cushion after three innings. North Florida broke the game open in the bottom of the third inning with a six-run frame. The Ospreys sent 10 batters to the plate in their second largest run total in a single inning this season.
Seahawk starter Alex Royalty (3-1), who had won his previous three starts, was not sharp. He walked three batters in the big third inning Osprey rally, including a bases loaded free pass to
Alex Merritt. Later in the inning, Merritt scored on one of two Royalty wild pitches.
Junior
Chris Thibideau continued his torrent hitting display this series with a 3-for-5 effort at the plate. He launched his second home run in as many days to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning. In two games against UNCW, the centerfielder has seven hits in 10 at bats with two home runs, three RBIs and four runs scored.
Redshirt junior
Christian Diaz matched his season-high with three hits including his team-leading
third home run of the year in the bottom of the eighth. He scored twice and matched Merritt with a game-high three runs batted in.
Merritt plated the first Osprey run of the game in the second inning as one of his three RBIs on the afternoon. He is now tied with Diaz for second on the team with 12 RBIs this season.
Senior
Corbin Olmstead lifted his batting average over the .300 mark by going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Patrick Ervin's
fifth double of the year with two outs in the third brought home the fifth and sixth Osprey runs. Ervin finished the day 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
North Florida will look to complete the series sweep against UNCW tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. Lefthander
Austin Drury (1-0) will get the start for the Ospreys and he will be opposed by right-hander Josh Roberson (0-1).
