JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The University of North Florida baseball team swept the Atlantic Sun Conference weekly awards for the first time in program history on Monday.
Standout performances from junior first baseman Ryan Puskar and junior left-handed pitcher John Atteo helped earn the pair Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week after leading the Ospreys to a 2-2 record at the BankFirst Baseball Challenge in Starkville, Miss., over the weekend.
Puskar crushed two grand slams on Sunday, both of which helped UNF go ahead against Northern Illinois and Mississippi State. He finished the day with nine RBIs and a double. For the weekend, he had five total hits, three of which went for extra bases. He also scored five runs and walked three times.
Atteo led UNF to a 9-3 win over NIU on Sunday, tossing his second career complete game. He notched four strikeouts while scattering 10 hits and allowing three runs, two of which were earned.
Since joining the A-Sun in 2006, the Ospreys have gathered eight weekly awards. It is the first Pitcher of the Week award since May 15, 2006, when former UNF starter Jeremy Papelbon won it.
The Ospreys will open their home schedule at 7 p.m. on Wednesday when they take on No. 28 Michigan at Harmon Stadium. UNF fans are encouraged to wear white as it will be "White Out The Wolverines" night.