FIRST PITCH
Score: North Florida 4 | Queens 3
Records: North Florida (13-9 overall, 2-2 ASUN) | Queens (4-16 overall, 2-2 ASUN)   
Location: The Stick (Charlotte, N.C.)
 
The Short Story:
In a tightly contested pitcher's duel between Queens and North Florida on Friday night, the early surge from the Ospreys proved to be enough as they held off a late comeback from the Royals to secure the series opener. The Ospreys plated all four runs in the first three innings between right-hander Landry Jurecka shut the door tossing six scoreless innings to close the game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-North Florida jumped on the Royals in the top of the first inning as Nick Monile led off the game with a triple to right-center. The Ospreys would capitalize on the fast start with a sacrifice fly from Jabin Bates for the early 1-0 lead.
-For the second straight inning, the visiting Ospreys led off the inning with an extra-base hit as Carter White laced a 2-2 pitch down the right field line for a leadoff double. A groundout to first advanced White 90 feet and Brady Browning drove him in with a sacrifice fly to center.
-North Florida stayed hot at the plate scoring two runs on two hits in the top of the third inning. A leadoff walk from Nick Monile and a stolen base put a runner in scoring position. The visitors turned to small ball as Connor Moore dropped down a perfect bunt down the third base line to put runners on the corners. Moore would swipe second and put two Ospreys in scoring position and Cade Bush capitalized with a two-run single up the middle for the 4-0 lead.
-After being retired through the first six frames, the Royals broke through in the bottom of the seventh inning. Following two quick outs, freshman Lenox Lively blasted his first collegiate home run off the scoreboard in right field to cut into the deficit.
-The blast from Lively sparked the Royals offense as they plated two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Anibal Rivera led off the inning getting hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A deep fly out from Nick Alderfer advanced Rivera to third, and the Royals went to work with two outs. Justin Hudson would reach on a throwing error to plate Rivera and another hit-by-pitch would force the Ospreys to turn to the bullpen. Tyler Peters worked a walk to load the bases, and a wild pitch brought across the second run of the inning. With the tying run 90-feet away, North Florida escaped the jam with a strikeout to hold onto the 4-3 lead.
-In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Royals appeared to start a rally as Jacob Grimes reached on a hit-by-pitch. However, the spark was erased when Ospreys closer Kaden Humphrey picked off Grimes at first to pick up the second out. With the door still slightly open, North Florida sealed it with a strikeout to end the game and capture the game one victory.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Sophomore Jake Barbour extended his team-best hitting streak to five straight games with a 1-for-4 performance at the plate.
-Rookie Lenox Lively posted a 1-for-4 evening, including his first career home run. The blast was the Royals 18^th of the season, and sixth on the first pitch of the at-bat.
-Shortstop Anibal Rivera extended his team-high on-base streak to 16 straight games with a hit-by-pitch. The junior also came around to score a run.
-Veteran Will Budnick rounded out the offense with a 1-for-3 day at the plate while also reaching on a hit-by-pitch.
-Junior Landry Jurecka was dominant out of the bullpen hurling 6.0 scoreless inning whiles allowing just three hits and striking out four Ospreys. The Greenwood, Arkansas native has only surrendered one earned run on five hits across his last 12 innings of work. The right-hander settled in comfortably retiring 11 straight Ospreys in the middle innings.
-Right-hander Will Ross was dominant for North Florida improving to 4-1 on the season. Ross twirled 7.0 innings allowing one earned run on four hits while striking out four.
-Queens fell to 1-2 on the year in games decided by one run.

NEXT UP
Queens and North Florida will continue the three-game weekend series on Saturday, March 22^nd at The Stick. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN Plus.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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