JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida baseball looks to win its fifth-straight game and first midweek game of the season when UNF goes to familiar foe UCF for a 6 p.m. first pitch at John Euliano Park.

This is the 33rd meeting between UNF and UCF, with UNF leading the all-time series in Orlando, 9-8.

GAME DETAILS
Dates: Tuesday, Mar. 7
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Orlando, Fla.
Opponent: UCF
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: statbroadcast

Starting Pitchers
UCF | RHP Dominic Stagliano
UNF | RHP Clayton Boroski
 
All-Time Series: UCF leads, 17-15

• UNF and UCF played each other five times last year, with the Ospreys taking two of those meetings
• North Florida paces the all-time series in games played in Orlando, 9-8
• UNF and UCF are meeting three times this season, with UNF heading back to UCF May 2

---

Run Up the Roundtrippers

• UNF has homered 25 times this season, already only 14 shy of the team total from all 55 games played last season
• UNF hit 18 home runs through the first eight games, setting a North Florida record for at least the DI-era.
• North Florida has posted six multi-home run games, including two five-home run games, good for tied for the UNF DI-era record
• The Ospreys have had 10 different players homer at least once this season

Freshman Phenom

• Alex Lodise has burst on the scene in his first 13 games at the collegiate level
• He hit the game-tying home run Saturday against Fordham, while hitting the game-winning three-run home run Sunday
• He is tied for the team lead in RBI with 13, as well as runs at 14
• His 35 total bases is the most on the team and he is one of seven Ospreys hitting at least .300
• He became the first Osprey in his UNF debut to homer as a true freshman since former UNF great, Tyler Marincov, did so in 2011

Walk-it Off Ospreys

• UNF has blown some games open this year, but the Ospreys have also dug deep in one-run games, going 3-1 in one-run games this year
• Two of those games have been won via a walk-off, with UNF doing so in a 3-2 win against Murray State and a 7-6 win against Fordham Saturday
• Both of those wins have come in extra innings
• Jakob Runnels ripped a walk-off pinch hit RBI single in the season opener, while Drew Leinenbach put down a walk-off squeeze bunt Saturday against Fordham

Weekend Streak

• UNF has won each weekend series this year, taking two of three from both Murray State and Villanova
• This past weekend UNF swept Fordham in four games, giving UNF its first four-game sweep since the 2015 season when UNF took care of Brown in four-straight
• UNF swept its first series since sweeping JU April 23-25
• UNF is on its four-game winning streak since May of 2021

Set it Up, Shut it Down

• Stephen Halstead and Lance Bolton have combined for four saves over 11 appearances this season, providing a dominant presence in the back half of UNF's bullpen
• Halstead ranks first in the league in saves and fourth nationally, while ranking tied for tenth all-time in UNF history with nine saves
• Bolton has been nearly untouchable in his first six games as an Osprey, spinning a 2.45 ERA while fanning 15 in 11 frames

In-State Stretch

• UNF has already played 12 home games this year
• The Ospreys are in game 14 of 18 in a season-opening 18-game stretch within state lines

---

SCOUTING UCF

• UCF is 8-3 overall and 4-3 in home games
• The Knights are 4-0 on the road, earning a series-sweep against Clemson and another against Bethune-Cookman
• UCF walked-off on Georgia Southern in the series opener this past week, but Georgia Southern out-hit the Knights to take the series
• The Knights' other loss came to regional contender, FAU, Feb. 21
• Hurlers Ben Vespi and Kyle Kramer were named to the All-American Athletic Conference Preseason Team
• UCF has had a flair for the dramatic, winning three games via walk-off
• The Knights were selected third of nine teams in the preseason conference poll, finishing behind Houston and ECU. The ECU Pirates were one win short of the College World Series a year ago
• Former four-year letterwinner, Zach Chappell, is on the UCF roster and has earned four outings with a 5.40 ERA
• The ASUN has produced a few other transfers that have joined the Knights, including FGCU righty Najer Victor and Tuesday starter Dom Stagliano
• Speaking of transfers, UCF outfielder John Rhys Plumlee, arrives at UCF after playing 60 games for Ole Miss. He is also the starting quarterback for the UCF football team

---

MORE UNF NOTES

Newcomer Contributions
13 different Ospreys made their UNF debuts, with nine making their first-career starts this season

First Game Magic
Eric Fouraker came in as defensive substitution in his debut against USC Upstate and proceeded to single in his first at-bat. He went on to launch a two-run home run to left field in his next trip up, making him the second Osprey this year to homer in their UNF debut, joining Alex Lodise.

At a Glance

• UNF's roster features 35 active players,with 18 newcomers. North Florida brings back four starters and 16 that have already earned letters. UNF's coaching staff looks a little different this year as well. Brady Bogart joins in his first season on the staff, serving as an assistant and as the primary pitching coach.
• Kyle Brooks returns for his fifth season overall and 2nd in an assistant role.

Preseason Selection

• Junior infielder Aidan Sweatt was named to the ASUN Baseball Preseason All-Conference squad. Sweatt is UNF's first preseason-conference pick since future MLB Draft picks Brad Deppermann and Tanner Murphy were selected in 2019.
• Sweatt is the first UNF infielder to be tabbed to the preseason team since Alex Merritt was picked back in 2017. He is one of five infielders honored this season in the 14-team league.
• The junior is coming off a 2022 campaign that saw him earn Second Team All-ASUN honors. The middle infielder hit .329 with 70 hits, 32 runs, eight doubles, three home runs, 38 RBI and had eight stolen bags.
• As a freshman, Sweatt started all but one game, earning unanimous all-freshman honors after hitting .282 with 28 runs and 14 doubles. He is just one game shy of 100 games played for his career and two games started away from 100.

Veteran Lefties

• UNF returns two veteran lefties that are projected to earn significant innings as starters this season.
• Southpaw Peter Holden found a groove after being inserted into the weekend rotation last April. Holden finished the season with Second Team All-ASUN honors, working his way into the Friday night slot with solid outing after solid outing. He finished the season 4-3 with a 3.41 ERA, one complete game and 68.1 innings worked. He would also be named to the ASUN All-Academic Team.
• Local lefty Tony Roca returns with144 innings worked and 126 strikeouts in his fourth season in the Navy and Gray.

Home Grown
As has become the theme for UNF baseball, North Florida's active-35 man roster features 33 players from the Sunshine State. A number of them come from the 904 area or nearby counties. High schools such as Bishop Kenny, Clay, Bartram Trail, Creekside, Paxon, Fletcher, Ponte Vedra and more are featured on the UNF roster.

Sophomore 'Spreys
A number of freshmen during the 2022 season are now primed for their sophomore seasons after contributing significant time last year. Tyler Gerteisen and Drew Leinenbach saw ample time last year, while relievers Clayton Boroski and Scott Griesemer earned valuable experience during their freshman seasons.

Hold It Down Halstead
Righty reliever Stephen Halstead is back for his senior season. The Pensacola, Fla., native was named to the 2022 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List. He is one of the most effective bullpen arms in the league, turning in a 3.07 ERA, .245 opponents' batting average and 60 strikeouts across 40 appearances.

Schedule Notes

• 34 home games, 22 road games and 43 games in Florida
• UNF plays ASUN newcomers: Austin Peay (March 17-19) and Queens (April 28-30)
• Eight-game home stand to start the year, the longest since 1994 and tied for the longest in UNF history
• 19 games against in-state teams
• 26 non-conference games and 30 in ASUN play
• River City Rumble is set for May 18-20 at JU
• Four games against Power Five teams (Florida State, South Carolina, and Florida (two))
• Fourth-straight year playing at South Carolina
• UNF hosts FSU for the first time since 2010
• First time playing USC Upstate since 2018, the last year the Spartans played in the ASUN
• 12 games against first-time foes, made up of four three-game series (Murray State, Villanova, UCA and Queens)
• Five games marks the longest road stretch of the year (May 2-9)
• Nine-game homestand is the longest of the year (April 6-19)
• 30 ASUN games
• One doubleheader (March 4 vs. Fordham)