JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida baseball begins a five-game road trip with a midweek game at FAMU on Tuesday, Mar. 12, with first pitch set for 4 p.m., in Tallahassee, Fla.
UNF is coming off a series win against Seton Hall, run-ruling the Pirates in the finale. The Ospreys are 1-4 in midweek games this season and will be looking for their 30th victory in program history against the Rattlers.
Last Time Out
UNF defeated Seton Hall 11-0, improving to 8-2 on the weekends this season. Tony Roca continued his impressive campaign with a six-inning performance. The Ospreys scored two runs in the first and third inning. North Florida pulled away in the fifth, scoring six runs. Cade Bush delivered a two RBI single and Jakob Runnels cleared the bases on a triple. A run in the sixth and a scoreless seventh from Lance Bolton sealed the victory and the series for the Ospreys.
Scouting FAMU
FAMU is 5-11 on the season and are on a six-game losing streak. They are coming off a five game series against Indiana State University that saw them lose three of five, with the other two games being postponed. The Rattler offense is led by True Fontenot and Broedy Poppell, who are hitting .324 and .286, respectively. Their offense has a team average of .229. Starter Caleb Granger has looked impressive in four starts this season. He has an ERA of 3.27 and has won two of his starts. The staff has allowed 101 runs this season.
All-Time Series
UNF has dominated the all-time series, winning 29 of 32 games. Last season, North Florida fell to the Rattlers in an early season midweek game. The Ospreys longest winning streak against FAMU was thirteen games, which began back in 2006 and was snapped in 2013. Each loss has been in Tallahassee with UNF being a perfect 19-0 at Harmon Stadium.
Reliable Roca
Tony Roca continues to be UNF’s most consistent starter this season, as he has now lowered his season ERA to 0.59. The lefty has not allowed a run since his first start against Florida back on Feb. 20. Over his last three starts, he has tossed 14.2 innings allowing zero runs while striking out 11. The graduate student has more wins this season than his previous two combined.
Multi McKinlay
Tripp McKinlay has been North Florida’s most impactful transfer this season. The infielder has been heating up at the plate and has four multi-hit games over his last six starts. McKinlay is on a six-game hit streak, and has driven in 11 over that stretch. He has raised his average to .328, good for second on the team.
Updates for Tuesday’s game will be made through live stats, as well as on X/Twitter at @OspreyBSB and Instagram at @OspreysBSB.
