JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Strong performances from Connor Moore and Kai Etwaru were not enough for North Florida baseball, who fell, 9-5, against Jacksonville on Sunday afternoon at Harmon Stadium.

Trailing 4-3 in the seventh, Carson Stevens ripped a pinch-hit double. Two batters later, Jaden Bastian was intentionally walked. With runners at first and second, Jonah Shields ripped an RBI single. Josh Steidl followed with an RBI single which gave Jacksonville (11-8, 2-1 ASUN) a 5-4 lead over North Florida (11-9, 1-2 ASUN).

JU pulled away in the eighth. After a three-hour-long delay, Chandler Howard singled to start the inning. He advanced to second and third on a ground ball and wild pitch. Cade Hentz walked and Nick Delisi smacked an RBI single. Two batters later, Bastian (4) clobbered a three-run home run to put Jacksonville up 9-4.

UNF added a run in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs, Santiago Ordonez walked. Brady Browning followed with a single which put two runners on. With runners at first and second, Finn Howell laced an RBI double to make it 9-5.

The Dolphins struck first in the top of the first inning. Bastian was hit by a pitch to start the first. Following a groundout, Steidl walked. Two batters later, Howard ripped an RBI double. A second run scored on the play as well on a throwing error. Howard scored later in the inning on a passed ball which gave JU a 3-0 lead.

North Florida responded in the bottom of the first. Nick Monile walked. Mitchell Collins singled and UNF quickly put two runners on. With runners at first and second, Connor Moore cracked an RBI single. Collins and Moore advanced a few pitches later on a balk. With two runners in scoring position, Bates plated Collins on an infield single. Carter White followed with a sacrifice fly which tied the game at three.

UNF took the lead in the fourth. Drew Leinenbach dropped a bunt and reached base safely on a throwing error. The poor throw allowed Leinenbach to make it to third. The throw to third also was poor, which allowed Leinenbach to score and gave the Ospreys a 4-3 lead.

Pitchers of Record
Win: Anthony Cordero (3-0)
Loss: Jordan Wimpelberg (0-1)

Line Scores
JU | 9 R, 10 H, 3 E, 8 LOB
UNF | 5 R, 10 H, 1 E, 9 LOB

Statistical Leaders
JU
Jaden Bastian | 1-3, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R, IBB
Chandler Howard | 3-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R, BB

UNF
Kai Etwaru | 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
Connor Moore | 3-5, 2B, RBI, R

UP NEXT
North Florida will travel to Daytona Beach to matchup with Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday, Mar. 18. BCU will broadcast the game on YouTube and updates will be made through live stats, as well as on X/Twitter at @OspreyBSB and Instagram at @OspreysBSB.