Box Score FIRST PITCH
Score: North Florida 7 | Queens 0
Records: North Florida (23-26 overall, 11-14 ASUN) | Queens (8-40 overall, 6-19 ASUN)
Location: Harmon Stadium (Jacksonville, Fla.)
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The Short Story:
The Queens University of Charlotte baseball team dropped game one of the three-game weekend series at North Florida by a final score of 7-0. The opening game was the first of a doubleheader on Friday in the Sunshine State. Game two was stopped at the top of the sixth inning, with the score tied 4-4 due to approaching storms. The remainder of game two has been pushed to Saturday, May 10th, with the series finale to follow approximately 30 minutes after.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-North Florida found their offensive rhythm early plating two runs on two hits in the bottom of the second inning. With runners on first and second and two outs, Drew Leinenbach ripped an RBI single into center field, and a misplay by the Royals brought around the pair of Ospreys for the 2-0 lead.
-In the bottom of the third, North Florida tacked on two more runs on three hits. With a runner on second and nobody out, Cash Bush chopped a ground ball to the shortstop, and the ball was mishandled due to the runner advancing to third which allowed the baserunner to come around to score. A passed ball moved Bush up 90-feet before an RBI single from Brady Browning extended the lead to 4-0.
-For the third straight frame, the Ospreys tacked on two runs. With runners on second and third and one out, a ground ball was hit to the Royals first baseman
Will Budnick. The lefty scooped it up and fired home, but the Ospreys runner slid in safely. On the throw home, Connor Moore advanced to third while Leinenbach took off for second drawing a throw from the Royals catcher. On the throwdown, Moore took off for the plate and beat the throw by inches to give the Ospreys a 6-0 lead.
-In the bottom of the sixth, North Florida tacked on a run with two hits. Nick Monile flared a one-out double before Connor Moore followed it up with an RBI double to give the Ospreys a 7-0 lead.
BY THE NUMBERS
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Anibal Rivera extended his hitting streak to eight straight games, and his on-base streak to 13 straight games with a 1-for-2 afternoon.
-Freshman
Ryan Brown got the start in center field and went 1-for-4 at the plate. The Ashland, Kentucky native came on in relief and threw 5.0 quality innings, allowing three runs on three hits while striking out five.
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Lenox Lively rounded out the Royals offense with a 1-for-4 performance.
-Charlotte native
Joey Ruller made his seventh start of the season and tossed 3.0 innings allowing two earned runs on six hits while striking out three Ospreys.
-North Florida got a dominant start from Clay Hendry as the right-hander threw 7.0 scoreless innings and surrendered just two hits while striking out eight Royals.
-Nick Monile led the Ospreys offense with a 3-for-3 game, including a double and two walks.
-The Ospreys were aggressive on the base paths, swiping four bags as Mitchell Collins led the way with two stolen bases.
NEXT UP
Queens and North Florida will return to the diamond on Saturday, May 10th at 11:00 a.m. to finish the remainder of game two. The series finale will get underway approximately 30 minutes after. Fans can catch all the action on ESPN Plus.
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