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University of North Florida Athletics

Matthew Naylor pitches for the Ospreys
7
Winner North Florida UNF 9-4
5
Jacksonville JU 6-8
Winner
North Florida UNF
9-4
7
Final
5
Jacksonville JU
6-8
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 R H E
North Florida UNF 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 2 7 12 1
Jacksonville JU 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 13 1

W: Naylor, Matthew (1-2) L: MEYER, Matt (0-1)

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History

Game Recap: Baseball | | North Florida Athletics

Ospreys Rally for Extra Inning Win over Jacksonville in Mayor's Cup Game

Final Score: North Florida 7, Jacksonville 5 (12)
Location: Sessions Stadium (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Records: UNF 9-4 | Jacksonville 6-7
WP: Matthew Naylor (1-2) | LP: Matt Meyer (0-1) | Save: None
PDF Boxscore

The Short Story: The North Florida baseball team scored six unanswered runs over the final seven innings to rally for a 7-5 victory in 12 innings over crosstown rival Jacksonville on Wednesday night at Session Stadium. The win was the Ospreys seventh in a row this season and gave UNF its third consecutive Mayor's Cup victory.

LEADING OFF 
- The Ospreys fell behind 5-1 through four innings before scoring three runs in the top of the 9th to force extra innings and then a pair of runs in the 12th to secure the win
- A trio of UNF relievers - Matt Vaka (3.0), Eddie Miller (1.0) and Matthew Naylor (4.0) worked eight scoreless innings of relief and allowed just four fits to give the Ospreys a chance for the come from behind victory
- North Florida banged out 12 hits on the night including three from Tanner Murphy and two each by Chris Thibideau, Alex Merritt and Chris Berry
- Yahir Gurrola collected his team-leading 8th double of the year to extend his current hit streak to 10 games

HOW IT HAPPENED 
- Jacksonville got on the board first, scoring a run in the bottom of the 2nd on an RBI single by Connor Stephens. John Cassala led off the inning with a single to right and moved into scoring position after a pair of wild pitches from UNF starter Brad Depperman.
- With two outs in the 3rd, JU added another run as Mike Cassala singled to right to start and crossed the plate following a double by Angel Camacho.
- The Ospreys got their first run of the night in the 4th when Chris Thibideau and Alex Merritt opened the frame with back-to-back singles and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Blake Voyles. After a strikeout, Wes Weeks earned a walk to load the bases and then Chris Berry drew another walk to force in a run.
- The Dolphins responded with three runs in the bottom of the 4th inning to build a 5-1 advantage. Again it was a two-out rally for JU as Stephens earned a walk and scored on a double by Chris Lehane. Nathan Koslowski followed with an RBI single scoring Lehane. Singles from Scott Dubrule and Matt Cassala pushed across the third run of the frame.
- After a scoreless 5th inning, UNF began its comeback with a run in the 6th. Merritt led off the frame with a double to left center and advanced to third on a Voyles' groundout. The hot-hitting Tanner Murphy sent an RBI single up the middle to plate Merritt.
- Trailing 5-2 in the top of the ninth, Murphy reached base with a 1-out infield single and then moved to second on a groundout. Down to their last out, the Ospeys got an RBI single from Chris Berry to keep the inning alive. Chrisitan Diaz followed with a single that moved Berry to third. Gurrola then stepped to the plate and smashed a bases clearing double to left center that knotted the score at 5-5.
- Matthew Naylor came to the mound for UNF to start the bottom of the 9th and kept the Dolphins off the board to force extra innings.
- The Ospreys put two runners on in the 11th but weren't able to push home the deciding runs. Naylor set JU down in order in both the 10th and 11th innings.
- In the 12th, Patrick Ervin opened with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Thibideau. Merritt would reach base after an error by the JU third baseman, that allowed him to move to second and Ervin to score giving UNF a one-run lead. Merritt moved to third on a groundout by Voyles and then scored an insurance run for the Ospreys on a RBI single from Murphy.
- Naylor closed the door on JU in the bottom of the 12th with a strikeout and a induced ground ball double-play to end the game.

WHAT'S NEXT
North Florida hosts Rutgers for a four-game weekend series beginning Friday at  4 p.m. Teams will play a doubleheader (1/4 p.m.) on Saturday before Sunday's 1 p.m. finale. All four games will be carried on the radio on 1010 XL (AM).


 
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Players Mentioned

Chris Berry

#21 Chris Berry

UTL
6' 0"
Sophomore
L/R
Christian Diaz

#28 Christian Diaz

1B
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
Patrick Ervin

#3 Patrick Ervin

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

#19 Austin Howze

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

#4 Alex Merritt

INF
6' 1"
Senior
R-R
Eddie Miller

#17 Eddie Miller

LHP
6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
R/L
Matthew Naylor

#39 Matthew Naylor

RHP
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
Adam Polansky

#16 Adam Polansky

RHP
6' 4"
Junior
R/R
Alex Smith

#36 Alex Smith

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

#15 Chris Thibideau

UTL
6' 0"
Senior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Chris Berry

#21 Chris Berry

6' 0"
Sophomore
L/R
UTL
Christian Diaz

#28 Christian Diaz

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
1B
Patrick Ervin

#3 Patrick Ervin

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

#19 Austin Howze

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

#4 Alex Merritt

6' 1"
Senior
R-R
INF
Eddie Miller

#17 Eddie Miller

6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
R/L
LHP
Matthew Naylor

#39 Matthew Naylor

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
RHP
Adam Polansky

#16 Adam Polansky

6' 4"
Junior
R/R
RHP
Alex Smith

#36 Alex Smith

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

#15 Chris Thibideau

6' 0"
Senior
R/R
UTL