UNF precise in 6-3 win

Friday, February 20

Starkville, Miss.

2 p.m.

University of North Florida

0-1

Northern Illinois

1-0

Northern Illinois

North Florida

Junior Tucker Pryor picked up his first career save in UNF's win on Friday.

2/20/2009 6:45:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

David Eldredge drives in four runs

By: Eric Scott, UNF Athletics

Box Score

STARKVILLE, Miss. - With a little brotherly love on the mound and precision hitting, the University of North Florida baseball team got its season off to an exciting start with a 6-3 win against Northern Illinois on Friday at the BankFirst Baseball Challenge.

UNF (1-0) had its vaunted First Coast Offense kicking on all cylinders, moving runners to the extra base on almost every chance, going 14-for-27 in advancement opportunities.

"We did a good job of moving runners and played good defense," head coach Dusty Rhodes said. "Dave (Eldredge) did a good job behind the plate with our pitchers. We swung the bat well, but we left a lot of runners on base. We just have to see how things go tomorrow."

Senior right-handed pitcher Ty Pryor picked up the win on the mound after tossing 5.0 innings and allowing two runs on just four hits to go along with five strikeouts.

Ty's brother, Tucker Pryor, came on in relief and notched his first career save after stifling the Huskies for 4.0 innings and allowing just one run on three hits while striking out four. Tucker was spot on, throwing 31 of his 40 pitches for strikes.

The Ospreys improved their all-time opening day record to 18-4 after getting a breakout debut performance from junior catcher David Eldredge, who went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a double. He performed well in the clutch, knocking in two runs on a single up the middle in the third inning with two outs.

Junior Preston Hale held his own well in the three-hole, going 2-for-3 and going 3-for-3 when leading off the inning. Hale now has a six-game hitting streak dating back to last season.

Both juniors Andrew Hannon and TJ Thompson were responsible for knocking in UNF's other runs. Hannon drove in junior Ryan Puskar in the bottom of the second with a single through the left side for the Ospreys' first run of the game. Wilson scored on Thompson's fielder's choice in the bottom of the fourth.

Both Puskar and redshirt freshman Andrew Karmeris scored twice, while sophomore Robbie Collier tallied a double.

The Ospreys are now 2-0 all-time against the Huskies and 16-11 against Mid-American Conference opponents. UNF has now recorded at least 10 hits in its last four games dating back to last season.

UNF will return to action at 1 p.m. eastern time on Saturday against Mississippi State at the BankFirst Baseball Challenge in Starkville, Miss. Links to live video and live stats will be available on UNFOspreys.com.