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University of North Florida Athletics

Drury delivering a pitch
0
Radford RAD 0-1
9
Winner North Florida UNF 1-0
Radford RAD
0-1
0
Final
9
North Florida UNF
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Radford RAD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 4
North Florida UNF 0 4 0 2 0 1 2 0 X 9 9 1

W: Drury, Austin (1-0) L: RIDGELY, Zack (0-1)

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Radford

2/18/2017 | 1:00 p.m.

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Feb. 18 (Sat) / 1:00 p.m.
 Radford
History

Game Recap: Baseball | | Jim Moyes

Baseball Blanks Radford 9-0 in Season Opener

Final Boxscore PDF

JACKSONVILLE -- What a difference a year makes!  After dropping their season opener last year, North Florida scored early and often in shutting out Radford 9-0 before a large and enthusiastic crowd at Harmon Stadium.

Doing most of the damage against Radford (0-1) ace Zach Ridgely was a promising group of newcomers to the 2017 Osprey club.  Although it will take more than one game to see if the Ospreys will be able to withstand the loss of some major players from last years 39 win team, UNF (1-0) fans surely had to be impressed with the play of their new faces in game one.

Pacing the UNF attack was Parkland College transfer Joe Boyle, who belted a pair of home runs in his first game as a Osprey.  Also contributing heavily to the offensive attack were first year Ospreys Yahir Gurrola, catcher Rey Gonzalez, outfielder Wes Weeks and second baseman Mac Wilson.

Not taking a back seat to the offensive fireworks provided with the first year group of Ospreys, sophomore pitcher Austin Drury took up where he left off last year with a strong showing in the season opener.  Drury was outstanding in the victory pitching 6 shutout innings, giving up but a pair of hits, walking none, and striking out 9 batters before getting a well deserved rest in the 7th inning.

The Ospreys wasted little time in getting on the board early as they tallied 4 runs in the second frame.  In his first at bat as an Osprey, the all time doubles leader at Midland College, Gurrola  showed he had not lost his touch by lacing a deep double to right center.  Gurrola would score on a two out single by Gonzalez with the game's first run.  Former Providence High School standout Mac Wilson then delivered a clutch two out double down the left field line to score Gonzalez and Weeks, who reached base on a walk.  Wilson would then score the 4th run of the inning when Patrick Ervin's ground ball was misplayed for an error.

The next two runs scored by North Florida  came in the 4th inning on the first of the Boyle home runs, a towering drive to left field that landed on the roof of the batting shed, followed by a RBI single off the bat of veteran shortstop Ervin, scoring Wilson who reached on a two-base error.

Boyle's second homer of the night came in the 6th and gave the home team a commanding 7-0 lead.  The final two runs for the Ospreys came in the 7th frame with doubles machine  Gurrola hitting his second twin bagger of the game, driving home Chris Thibideau.  Week's then delivered his first hit and RBI in a UNF uniform to drive in Gurrola with the games final run.

Drury and relief pitchers Austin Howze and Trace Norcus combined for 13 strikeouts without giving up a free pass in the near perfect outing.  

The Ospreys will send Brad Depperman to the mound on Saturday in game 2 of the three game series with the first pitch scheduled for 1:00 PM.  Depperman will be opposed by Radford's Danny Hrbek, a pre-season Big South pick as an infielder, who will be making his first start as a pitcher for the Highlanders.

 
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Players Mentioned

Austin Drury

#30 Austin Drury

LHP
5' 11"
Sophomore
L/L
Patrick Ervin

#3 Patrick Ervin

2B
6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
L-R
Austin Howze

#19 Austin Howze

RHP
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
Chris Thibideau

#15 Chris Thibideau

UTL
6' 0"
Senior
R/R
Rey Gonzalez

#8 Rey Gonzalez

C
6' 0"
Junior
R/R
Joe Boyle

#10 Joe Boyle

IF
6' 1"
Junior
R/R
Mac Wilson

#12 Mac Wilson

IF
5' 9"
Junior
S/R
Yahir Gurrola

#20 Yahir Gurrola

OF
6' 0"
Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Austin Drury

#30 Austin Drury

5' 11"
Sophomore
L/L
LHP
Patrick Ervin

#3 Patrick Ervin

6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
L-R
2B
Austin Howze

#19 Austin Howze

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
RHP
Chris Thibideau

#15 Chris Thibideau

6' 0"
Senior
R/R
UTL
Rey Gonzalez

#8 Rey Gonzalez

6' 0"
Junior
R/R
C
Joe Boyle

#10 Joe Boyle

6' 1"
Junior
R/R
IF
Mac Wilson

#12 Mac Wilson

5' 9"
Junior
S/R
IF
Yahir Gurrola

#20 Yahir Gurrola

6' 0"
Junior
R/R
OF