FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-15-03

College Baseball: No. 17 North Florida 9, No. 4 AASU 5

Release Courtesy of UNF Sports Information

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team scored early and nearly every inning – and weathered a five-run rally in the sixth inning – to defeat fourth-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University 9-5 Saturday at Harmon Stadium.

The 17th-ranked Ospreys scored at least a run in each of the first seven innings to grab a win in the opening game of an important Peach Belt Conference series against the Pirates.

Jeff Millsaps was a home run away from hitting for the cycle for the Ospreys, going 4-for-5 at the plate for two runs and two RBIs. He doubled down the rightfield line in the bottom of the third and tripled to center in the fifth.

Marion Knowles contributed two hits, a run and an RBI and turned in three stellar defensive plays to keep the Ospreys leading. Knowles recorded two putouts at third base on back-to-back plays in the fourth inning to keep AASU off the scoreboard.

In the sixth, he also snagged a ground ball, tagged Chris Boaen, who had come off the bag on third, and gunned the ball to first base to beat the runner. The double play ended the Pirates lone rally. Junior Stacy Bennett led the Pirates with three hits on the day.

UNF (15-7, 3-4 PBC) will continue its home series against AASU (18-2, 3-1) with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday.

- Pirates -