Though leadership has changed since last season, the game hasn’t as the North Florida baseball team opens the 2018 season at Harmon Stadium.

Last season, the Ospreys landed in fourth place in the regular season, and had over 30 wins under Head Coach Smoke Laval. UNF was selected fifth in the conference during the preseason for the upcoming slate of games.

Head Coach Tim Parenton took over the role during the off-season. Before being in charge, he was an assistant coach for the program from 2010 to 2013.

Just like last year’s opening series, North Florida faces off against the Radford Highlanders for a three-game weekend.

This season, the Ospreys has 21 of its first 26 games of the season at Harmon Stadium, including match-ups against the National Champions Florida Gators (Feb. 27). The two teams will face off in back-to-back meetings in Jacksonville and Gainesville. UNF will also see their cross-town rival Jacksonville University four times in the season.

North Florida has a total of 32 games at home this season. This year, the Ospreys are the host school for the ASUN tournament set for May 23.

The experience team returned 11 players from the 2017 season with five starters in addition to another a handful of starting pitchers. There will also be 11 new faces on the squad to fill in the gaps. Compared to other ASUN teams, North Florida has led in hitting for five straight years.

Baseball has its first pitch against Radford on Friday, Feb. 16.

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