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University of North Florida Athletics

Yahir Gurrola smashes a pitch for a homerun for the Ospreys
Todd Drexler
3
Kennesaw State KSU 12-16, 1-2 ASUN
4
Winner North Florida UNF 20-11, 2-1 ASUN
Kennesaw State KSU
12-16, 1-2 ASUN
3
Final
4
North Florida UNF
20-11, 2-1 ASUN
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Kennesaw State KSU 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 3 11 1
North Florida UNF 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 X 4 9 0

W: Deppermann, Brad (2-1) L: Ward, Mason (2-2) S: Naylor, Matthew (5)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Jim Moyes

Ospreys Claim Series vs Kennesaw State with 4-3 Victory on Sunday

Final Score: North Florida 4, Kennesaw State 3
Location: Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Records: UNF 20-11, 2-1 ASUN | Kennesaw State 12-16, 1-2 ASUN
WP: Brad Depperman (2-1) | LP: Mason Ward (2-3) | Save: Matthew Naylor (5)
PDF Boxscore

The Short Story:  North Florida continued their season streak of not losing a weekend series, and more importantly with today's 4-3 victory over the defending ASUN regular season champions from Kennesaw State, the Ospreys open conference play with a 2-1 record. Brad Depperman won his second straight Sunday start, allowing just two earned runs to the potent KSU offensive lineup, before giving way to Tyler Dupont and Matt Naylor to close out the victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- In only his first at bat, Yahir Gurrola took the RBI lead in the ASUN as he launched his team leading 6th home run. With Chris Thibideau aboard after collecting a double, Gurrola's two-run blast would give UNF a 2-0 lead and improve his RBI total to 30.
- The Ospreys notched a solo tally in the fourth inning to increase their lead to 3-0.  Wesley Weeks reached first base when his attempt to bunt for a base hit drew an errant throw by the Owl third baseman's that pulled KSU first baseman Austin Upshaw off the bag. Weeks then stole second and advanced to third on Tanner Murphy's infield single. With two outs, Rey Gonzalez came through with a base hit that easily scored Weeks but Murphy, attempting to score from first base, was gunned down at the plate to end the inning.
- After cruising through the first five innings with hardly a threat from the Kennesaw State offense, the KSU bats suddenly came alive with three straight hits to load the bases in the sixth.  It looked dim for Osprey fans when Depperman's wild pitch to Griffin Helms allowed Owl leadoff hitter Grant Williams home from third while advancing the other two runners into scoring position. With the tying run at second base and still nobody out, Depperman buckled down and struck out Helms and induced the next two KSU hitters into hitting harmless tappers back to him on the mound as the hard throwing righty escaped with just one run scored in the frame.
- The Ospreys got that run right back in their half of the sixth inning. Christian Diaz opened the inning with a looping single to center field. First showing bunt, Weeks then pulled the bat back and slashed a double down the third base line that nearly beheaded charging Owl third baseman Jeremy Howell. The extra base hit put runners on second and third. Brock Turner then came on in relief of KSU starter Mason Ward. Blake Voyles, in a pinch hit role, hit a high chopper to second base sending Diaz home for the 4th and final UNF run on the day.
- Depperman retired the first batter he faced in the 8th frame but after a Helms base hit, Osprey coach Smoke Laval played the percentages and brought in southpaw Tyler Dupont to pitch to the next two left handed KSU hitters. Working in his second consecutive game in relief, Dupont walked one batter, but induced Upshaw to ground out for the second out of the inning.  UNF closer Matt Naylor then got the call from the bull pen.  After walking Howell to load the bases, KSU's Garrett Hodges made it a one run UNF lead with a base hit to left field plating two runs that trimmed the margin to 4-3.
- Naylor closed the door on the Owls by striking out David Chabut to end the 8th before retiring 3 of the 4 batters he faced in the ninth to earn his 5th save of the season.

PARTING SHOTS
- UNF continued their stellar defensive play by playing errorless ball for the entire three game series.  
- The win further tightened the season history between these two longtime rivals with KSU holding a slim 3 game edge, 44-41.
- The series loss to the Ospreys was the first ASUN series loss by Kennesaw State since they dropped two out of three at Harmon Stadium in 2015.
- With his double in the opening inning, Chris Thibideau has extended his streak of having reached base safely to 19 games.
- The Ospreys nearly repeated their Saturday feat of having all the starters in the lineup notching base hits.  Only Mac Wilson failed to dent the hitting column for the victors.
- Osprey shortstop Patrick Ervin found the Owl pitching to his liking.  Ervin went 6-for-10 in the 3 game series to improve his average 24 points, from an already solid .324 to a hefty .348.
- With the left handed Mason Ward getting the start for KSU, Rey Gonzalez was able to give Blake Voyles a breather and came through with a 2 hit afternoon, the only Osprey with a multiple hit performance.

WHATS NEXT
After a well deserved day off Monday, the Ospreys will return to action on Tuesday for the second game of their 2017 home-and-home series against the College of Charleston. UNF defeated CofC in their first meeting up in the Palmetto State, 11-2, on Mar. 14. The first pitch is scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. start at Harmon Stadium.

 
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