JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida's big offensive blows came early and late in the game, and in between lefty
Zach Chappell emerged to spin 3.2 innings of scoreless relief as the Ospreys downed crosstown rival JU (15-12, 3-7 ASUN), 9-6, in the series opener Friday, April 8 from Harmon Stadium.
Sprinkled in during a game that saw 26 combined hits and three home runs was a two-run saving defensive play by
Grant Grodi at first and some key stolen bases by the North Florida (12-19, 3-7 ASUN) baserunners.
North Florida jumped ahead to a 5-0 lead, but JU crept back into it, tying the game at 6-6 before the Ospreys broke the tie with a three-run eighth.
UNF 9, JU 6
Pitchers of Record
Win:
Zach Chappell (1-4)
Loss: Blake Barquin (2-2)
Line Scores
JU | 6R, 11H, 2E, 6 LOB
UNF | 9R, 15H, E, 8 LOB
Behind the Line Score
- UNF took a 1-0 lead in the first. Isaiah Byars singled, moved to third on a Brock Edge single and scored on a double steal attempt.
- Dallen Leach launched his third home run of the season, a solo shot to give UNF a 2-0 lead in the second.
- UNF wasn't done with the damage in the second as Edge roped a two-run double and Abraham Sequera scored another with an RBI groundout for a 5-0 lead.
- JU scored a pair of two-out runs thanks to an RBI double and a throwing error in the third.
- UNF made it 6-2 in the fourth when Edge advanced to third on a dropped fly ball and scored on an RBI groundout from Sequera.
- JU did score one in the fifth on Elias Flowers' solo home run to right center. Cade Westbrook made a great play to rob extra bases and Max McKinley grabbed a ground ball ticketed for center field, keeping runners off the bases.
- The Dolphins got even, 6-6, in the sixth with four hits, three of which were doubles.
- With runners at second and third, Grant Grodi made a game-changing play, diving to save two runs on a sharply hit grounder.
- UNF manufactured the go-ahead run in the eighth. Grodi singled, Justin Holmes pinch ran and stole second before taking third on a throwing error on the stolen base attempt. Tyler Gerteisen provided the go-ahead sac fly to follow.
- Just batters later, Abraham Sequera delivered the knockout blow, a two-run home run into the trees in right field.
Statistical Leaders
UNF
- Isaiah Byars | 3-for-5, 2R
- Brock Edge | 3-for-4, 2R, 2RBI, 2B, BB
- Abraham Sequera | 1-for-4, HR, 4RBI
- Dallen Leach | 2-for-3, HR, BB
- Grant Grodi | 3-for-4, R
- Zach Chappell | W, 3.2IP, H, 0ER, BB, 4K
JU
- Elias Flowers | 2-for-5, 2R, 2RBI
- Chase Malloy | 2-for-5
- Josh Stiedl | 2-for-4, RBI
Notes
- UNF has won seven of its last nine against JU.
- Max McKinley finished the night one strikeout shy of 100 for his career.
- Cade Westbrook's reached base streak moved to 18 games with his single late in the game.
- Chappell didn't allow an earned run, permitting just one hit in 3.2 innings of relief.
- Abraham Sequera is now even with Dallen Leach and Brock Edge for the home run lead on the team as all have three.
- The Ospreys have pounded out double-digit hits in 15 of 31 games this season.
Up Next
UNF hosts Jacksonville in game two of a three-game set Saturday, April 9 at 2:05 p.m.