March 10, 2017 Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Junior Chris Folinusz hit a solo home run to put Rutgers baseball on top in the second inning, but North Florida came back with 15 runs from there to take the series opener Friday at Harmon Stadium, 15-1. It was the first all-time meeting between the programs.
Folinusz, who now has two homers this season, went opposite field to give the Scarlet Knights (4-8) the early lead with one out in the second. He would go on to single and finish the day 2-for-3. Sophomore Jawuan Harris also had a multiple-hit showing with two singles and a walk, while senior Mike Carter reached three times on two walks and a single. RU totaled seven hits on the day.
On the mound, freshman Kyle Gerace provided two scoreless innings out of the bullpen with two strikeouts in his third career outing. Junior John O'Reilly (1-3) took the loss in a five-inning start.
After Folinusz struck to put RU on top, UNF (10-4) came back with one run on two hits in the second to tie it up. Then in the third, two came in on a solo homer and an RBI double to make it 3-1. Rutgers threatened to cut into the deficit with runners on in the fourth and fifth, but were unable to cross the plate. That led to a four-run rally in the fifth by the Ospreys to open up a six-run lead that would prove insurmountable.
Austin Drury (2-1) earned the win for the hosts with one run allowed over six innings. North Florida totaled 19 hits at the plate.
RU and UNF will next play a Saturday doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
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