JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida baseball (1-1) split their opening day against Delaware (1-1), coming from behind in game one before dropping the second game of the day on Friday afternoon. UNF's victory in game one was the first victory for Joe Mercadante as head coach of the Ospreys.

GAME 1 | UNF 9, Delaware 7 

North Florida opened the scoring in the third inning with a Cade Bush two-run double. Delaware responded with a five-run fourth inning, which included a three-run home run from Andrew Amato. The Ospreys got a solid three and two thirds innings of work from starter Will Ross, but the bullpen struggled when he was replaced. 

UNF would tie the game in the fifth with a home run of their own. Drew Leinenbach delivered a three-run home run over the left field wall, off a two and one breaking ball. Bush then continued a great day by plating a run on a sac fly to push North Florida ahead. The lead would not last, as Delaware scored two runs to pull ahead in the seventh.

Newcomer Kaden Humphrey would take over, locking down the rest of the seventh and eighth. UNF would deal the final blow, scoring three runs in the eighth, two on a Jakob Runnels double. Bryce Fisher would slam the door in the ninth, sealing the victory and giving the Ospreys their first win of 2024. 

Pitchers of Record
Win: Kaden Humphrey (1-0) 
Loss: Ethan Schaub (0-1)
Save: Bryce Fisher (1)

Line Scores
UNF | 9 R, 13 H, 0 E, 10 LOB
DEL | 7 R, 9 H, 1 E, 5 LOB

Statistical Leaders
UNF
Cherokee Nichols | 3-4, 2B, 3 R, BB 
Cade Bush | 1-3, 4 RBI, 2B, R
Drew Leinenbach | 1-3, HR, 3 RBI, R, BB
Kaden Humphrey | 1.2 IP, W, H, 3 K, 1 BB

Delaware
Andrew Amato | 2-4, HR, 3 RBI, BB 
Aidan Kane  | 3-3, 2 RBI, 3 2B, BB
Aaron Graeber | 2-5, 2B

GAME 2 | Delaware 6, UNF 1

North Florida fell in their second game against Delaware, giving the Ospreys their first loss of the season. UNF's offense took advantage of early mistakes and scored a run in the first inning. The Blue Hens quickly tied it in the second with a home run, and took the lead in the third on a single.

Peter Holden had a solid four innings but ran into some trouble in the fifth. A single and an error gave Delaware a scoring opportunity, and they took advantage of it. Outfielder Jake Dunion would drive in two on a double and first baseman Aidan Kane hit a two-run home run. Delaware made it a six to one game and it would be enough to secure the victory. 

UNF could only come up with three hits, two of which occurred in the eighth. Delaware starter, Tyler August, looked comfortable the majority of the game. His fastball topped at 93 MPH and he struck out six. UNF right-hander Brett Dennis had a fantastic debut, tossing two innings of scoreless relief while striking out two.

Pitchers of Record
Win: Tyler August (1-0)
Loss: Peter Holden (0-1)
Save: Eli Atiya (1)

Line Scores
UNF | 1 R, 3 H, 2 E, 3 LOB
DEL | 6 R, 8 H, 1 E, 6 LOB

Statistical Leaders
UNF
Cherokee Nichols | 1-2, BB
Brett Dennis| 2.0 IP, H, 3 K

Delaware
Aaron Graeber | 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, R 
Jake Dunion | 2-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, R
Aidan Kane | 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, R 
Tyler August | 4.0, W, H, R, 6 K, 2 BB

NOTES

• North Florida has won on opening day five times over the last six seasons.
• Kade Humphrey won his first game as an Osprey.
• Bryce Fisher recorded his first save as an Osprey.
• Every Osprey recorded a hit on opening day.
• Will Ross started his first collegiate game.
• Cade Bush had five RBIs across the two games.

UP NEXT

The Ospreys play game three of the series against Delaware on Sunday, Feb. 18, at Harmon Stadium.