The UNF Ospreys baseball was defeated 7-3 by the UCF Knights April 7, in a contest dominated by missed opportunities.

                With 57 degree weather and winds around 16 mph, the Ospreys left 11 men on base and grounded into three double plays.

                The Ospreys did manage to get 6 hits in the game, including a double by freshman third baseman TJ Gavlik. Gavlik’s double was the only multiple base hit for the Ospreys.

                Defense didn’t help the Ospreys as UNF committed two errors, one by junior starting pitcher Michael Kelly and the other by junior relief pitcher Tucker Pryor.

                UNF’s starting pitcher, junior Michael Kelly, went only 2.2 innings, giving up five hits and five runs. After Kelly was pulled from the game, UNF went through four pitchers in the next 6 innings, one of whom only pitched against two batters and walked both of them. Senior pitcher Mike Gottlieb closed out the game for UNF in relief duty.

                The Osprey hitters had a difficult time getting a hit after UCF’s starting pitcher was pulled after 1.2 innings. UCF reliever Brennan Dobbins pitched the next six innings, giving up just three hits and two runs. UCF pitcher Justin Weiss closed the door on the Osprey’s hopes of winning, going 1.1 innings giving up only 1 hit.

                After the game, UNF baseball head coach Dusty Rhodes had very little to say. “It was a weak effort,” Coach Rhodes said as he helped collect the gear.

                When asked why Osprey batters were having such a tough night at the plate, junior infielder TJ Thompson said that “sometimes that’s the way it goes.”

                With the loss to UCF, the Ospreys record moves to 14-19 on the season.