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University of North Florida Athletics

Team lined up along first base line
Megan Fitzgerald
2
North Florida UNF 2-2
3
Winner UCF UCF 4-0
North Florida UNF
2-2
2
Final
3
UCF UCF
4-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
North Florida UNF 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 8 0
UCF UCF 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 X 3 10 0

W: SCHEFTZ, J. (1-0) L: Naylor, Matthew (0-1) S: TUCKER B. (2)

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2/24/2017 | 4:00 p.m.

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History

Game Recap: Baseball | | North Florida Athletics

Ospreys Edged 3-2 by UCF in Road Opener

Final Score: North Florida 2, UCF 3
Location: Jay Bergman Field (Orlando, Fla.)
Records: UNF 2-2 | UCF 4-0 
WP: Jordan Scheftz (1-0) | LP: Matthew Naylor (0-1) | Save: Bryce Tucker (2)
PDF Boxscore

The Short Story: In their first road game of the season, the North Florida baseball team saw in-state rival UCF score the deciding run in the seventh inning in a 3-2 decision on Tuesday night in Orlando. 

LEADING OFF 
- The Ospreys collected 8 hits on the night with both Alex Merritt and Chris Thibideau boasting multi-hit performances
- UCF finished with 10 hits in the contest paced by a 3-for-4 performance by leadoff batter Eli Putnam
- North Florida sent seven pitchers to the mound with no hurler tossing more than two innings during the midweek contest
- The Knights also used seven pitchers in the contest with starter Chris Williams working 4.0 innings and allowing five hits but just a single run

HOW IT HAPPENED 
- The Knights nearly scored in the first inning but right fielder Yahir Gurrola completed a double-play by nailing UCF's Eli Putnam at the plate as he tried to tag-up on a fly ball.
- The Ospreys got on the board first, picking up their first run of the game in the second inning on an RBI single up the middle from Joe Boyle. The hit was the sixth of the season for Boyle, who picked up his third RBI of the young campaign. Yahir Gurrola scored the UNF run after opening the frame with a double down the left field line before moving to third on fielder's choice from Wesley Weeks.
- UCF would even the tally at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth. The Knights used a walk followed by a single up the middle and bunt single to load the bases. Following a pop up out, Rylan Thomas roped a single into left that scored Ryan Crile, who opened the frame drawing the base on balls. Austin Howze then came on in relief of Tyler Dupont for the Ospreys and squelched the Knights threat by inducing a pair of flyouts.
- North Florida had the bases loaded in the top of the fifth but were unable to push a run across.
- The Knights moved in front 2-1 after adding a run in the fifth. UCF collected back-to-back singles of Howze followed by a sacrifice bunt that moved both runners into scoring position. Kyle Marsh followed up with an RBI single to right.
- UNF answered in the top of the seventh as Alex Merritt belted his second double of the season to open the frame. He then moved to third on a single from Chris Thibideau and crossed the plate to knot the score at 2-2 when Gurrola grounded out to third.
- The game winner would come for the Knights in the bottom of the seventh. Luke Hamblin singled to start the inning and then stole second. A single for Eli Putnam put runners on the corner before relief pitcher Matthew Naylor picked Putnam off for the first out of the inning. Crile would lift a sacrifice fly to center allowing Hamblin to scamper home for the run.
- UCF threatened to add an insurance run in the eighth but left a pair of runners stranded before closer Bryce Tucker earned his second save of the year by striking out the side in the ninth

WHAT'S NEXT
The Ospreys return to action this weekend (Feb. 26-28) as they play host to visiting Northeastern for a rare four-game series. The duo will face off Friday at 4 p.m. followed by a Saturday doubleheader (1 & 4:30 p.m.) and a Sunday finale at 1 p.m.

 
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Players Mentioned

Austin Howze

#19 Austin Howze

RHP
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
Alex Merritt

#4 Alex Merritt

INF
6' 1"
Senior
R-R
Matthew Naylor

#39 Matthew Naylor

RHP
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
Chris Thibideau

#15 Chris Thibideau

UTL
6' 0"
Senior
R/R
Wes Weeks

#2 Wes Weeks

OF
6' 1"
Sophomore
R/R
Joe Boyle

#10 Joe Boyle

IF
6' 1"
Junior
R/R
Yahir Gurrola

#20 Yahir Gurrola

OF
6' 0"
Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Austin Howze

#19 Austin Howze

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
RHP
Alex Merritt

#4 Alex Merritt

6' 1"
Senior
R-R
INF
Matthew Naylor

#39 Matthew Naylor

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
RHP
Chris Thibideau

#15 Chris Thibideau

6' 0"
Senior
R/R
UTL
Wes Weeks

#2 Wes Weeks

6' 1"
Sophomore
R/R
OF
Joe Boyle

#10 Joe Boyle

6' 1"
Junior
R/R
IF
Yahir Gurrola

#20 Yahir Gurrola

6' 0"
Junior
R/R
OF