UNF's Smoke Laval gets win #600

The Ospreys exploded for 16 runs to even the series at one with JU Saturday.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For the third consecutive series, the Jacksonville University baseball team heads to a game three rubber match having split games with North Florida, falling Saturday 16-7 at Harmon Stadium. The Dolphins (18-20; 4-4 A-Sun) are 1-1 in series clinching game three's while the Ospreys (29-13; 7-4 A-Sun) have two-of-three conference series this season.

The game began similar to the victory last night by the Dolphins, when Austin Hays (1-for-4) sent a deep drive over the left center-field wall, gathering the early 1-0 lead, but a two-out rally by the Ospreys in the same frame would prove to be the theme of the afternoon, as for back-to-back innings, the home team would drive in 14 runs with two outs.

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"You can see why this conference is so tough heading into a similar situation we had last weekend, tomorrow," said head coach Tim Montez. "It will come down to which team comes out stronger mentally, and is able to win each inning. I tip my cap to coach Laval, who is a good friend of mine and is a great coach, for gathering an impressive milestone in his career."

UNF head coach Smoke Laval gathered career win No. 600 with the afternoon tilt. The six-run second by UNF was highlighted by a two-run home run by Donnie Dewees and the eight-run third was capped by a three-run home run by Corbin Olmstead.

A combined 28-hits in afternoon forced both starting pitchers out of the game early as Parker Perez (1-2) was pegged with the loss throwing two innings, and Bryan Baker allowed six-earned and walked seven.

Game three from Harmon Stadium is Sunday at 3 o'clock.