March 10, 2008

Box Score

Daytona Beach, Fla. - The University of North Florida out-hit and outplayed the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman on Monday night to earn a 6-1 win inside Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Fla.

It seemed as if a bit of being tired may have caught up with the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman (7-5) on Monday with their fourth game in three days ... and sixth in six days. But that, according to B-CU head coach Mervyl Melendez, is absolutely no excuse for having a clinic on hitting performed on them at home.

Junior RHP Spencer Jones (2-0) led the clinic with a complete game in which he struck out six batters and scattered five hits. It was the first complete game for an Osprey this season and the first since Brad Johnson tossed one in a 2-1 win against the Wildcats on March 3, 2007.

The Ospreys (8-4) got on the board first in the top of the third when they loaded the bases and Gaudy hit a grounder to the shortstop that allowed senior Chad Knight to score.

B-CU came back to tie the game with their only score of the contest in the home-half of the fourth inning as Jose Lozada and Osvaldo Torres reached base safely to start the frame. Sunday's hero Chris Brown then collected a sacrifice fly to plate Lozada for the 1-1 tie.

After BCU (6-6) tied it at one in the bottom of the fourth, UNF surged for three runs in the top of the fifth to take a 4-1 lead. Gaudy's slicing single to right field helped Hale score. Senior Travis Martin was also able to score on the play when BCU's Neal Jones overran the ball.

Warren capped the scoring when he beat out the throw from the third baseman on an attempted double play, which allowed sophomore Andrew Hannon to score.

Sophomore T.J. Thompson helped UNF tack on another run to its lead in the top of the eighth with an RBI single that brought Warren in to score. Sophomore Michael Gropper extended the Ospreys' advantage when he scored on a sacrifice fly by Knight after reaching base on a double down the right field line.

The win went to UNF's Spencer Jones who kept his record clean at 2-0 on the year, while B-CU freshman Roman Lancara earned his first decision in two career outings this year to fall to 0-1.

UNF was led at the plate by the hitting performance of a trio of players that included Preston Hale with a 2-for-4 evening. That was added with Andy Warren's 2-for-4 day with a run scored and RBI. Catcher Michael Gropper added a 2-for-4 day as well while scoring a run.

The Wildcats looked towards Torres and senior Neal Jones at the plate as the duo combined for four (4) of the 'Cats five hits in the game. Lozada added the other hit for B-CU.

B-CU will have little time to rest as they will get ready for a two-game mid-week series at Mercer University on Tuesday and Wednesday in Macon, Ga. B-CU swept the Bears last year in Daytona Beach, while the Bears of Mercer took all three games in Georgia two years ago.

For more information, please visit the Mercer Athletic Website at www.MercerBears.com. Ticket information and live stats will be available on their website throughout the two days.