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JACKSONVILLE -- North Florida seemed to be in cruise control while holding a 5-2 over Radford before the Highlander bats came alive, highlighted by a 4-run 5th inning in handing the Osprey's their first loss of the season, 8-7, on Saturday afternoon at Harmon Stadium.

Despite the fact UNF outhit the visitors 12-7, the Ospreys were stymied by some outstanding relief pitching from the Radford relief corps of Cameron Fritz and closer Kyle Zurak.

The Ospreys spotted the Highlanders a run in the first inning on a two out RBI single off the bat of Spencer Horwitz but the Radford lead was short-lived.  Blake Voyles banged out the first of his game high 3 hits to drive in Patrick Ervin (Hit by Pitch) and Alex Merritt (single) to give the Osprey's a 2-1 lead.

UNF continued to spoil the pitching debut of Radford's Danny Hrbek tallying a pair of runs in their second at bats when Merritt's pop fly fell untouched in short centerfield, driving in Joe Boyle who had doubled earlier and Mac Wilson who walked.

Radford got a run back in the third inning, matched by an Osprey run of their own in the bottom half of the inning.  Wes Weeks banged out a double that drove in Voyles, who reached base earlier on his second hit of the game.

The fourth inning proved to be the pivotal frame of the contest when Radford scored four runs to regain the lead at 6-5, with three of the runs coming with two outs.  Needing but one out to qualify for a win, Osprey starter Brad Depperman gave up a RBI single to his pitching opponent Hrbek, followed by a long two run home run off the bat of Horwitz.  

Chris Thibideau quickly tied up the contest at 6-6 with a laser shot that cleared the left field fence for a home run.  However, Thibideau's circuit blow would prove to be the only run that Redford reliever Cameron Fritz would allow in his 3.2 innings of relief pitching.

Radford would take advantage of an unearned run to regain the lead in the 6th inning, and Colby Higgerson would push the Highlander advantage to two runs with a long solo blast to left field in the 7th inning.

The Ospreys would post a major ninth inning threat that fell just one run shy of sending the game into extra innings. Ervin and Thibideau would reach base on base hits off Radford closer Kyle Zurak. Voyles kept UNF hopes alive when his third hit of the ball game drove in run number seven.  However, Zurak struck out Christian Diaz with a pair of Ospreys on base to preserve the Radford 8-7 victory.

In addition to Voyles, Thibideau also had three hits in the losing cause for the Ospreys while Merritt added a multi-hit game for North Florida with his two hits.

The rubber game of the series will take place Sunday afternoon with a 1:00 PM start time at Harmon Stadium with Frank German of the Ospreys starting on the mound against Radford's Ryan Sande.