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UNF Baseball Coach Praises Ospreys for Sweeping JU
North Florida's Joe Mercadante lauds his team's dominant performance against crosstown rival Jacksonville University.
Mar. 29, 2026 at 10:51pm
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The University of North Florida baseball team swept their crosstown rival Jacksonville University in a three-game series over the weekend, with head coach Joe Mercadante praising his Ospreys squad for their dominant performance.
Why it matters
The UNF-JU rivalry is one of the most intense in North Florida sports, and this series sweep gives the Ospreys an important early-season advantage over their crosstown foes as they compete for conference and regional positioning.
The details
The Ospreys won the series opener 8-2, followed by a 10-4 victory and a 6-1 win to complete the sweep. UNF's pitching staff held the JU offense in check throughout the series, while the Ospreys' bats came alive to provide more than enough run support.
- The three-game series took place over the weekend of March 27-29, 2026.
The players
Joe Mercadante
The head coach of the University of North Florida baseball team.
University of North Florida
The Division I college baseball program located in Jacksonville, Florida.
Jacksonville University
The Division I college baseball program located in Jacksonville, Florida and the crosstown rival of UNF.
What they’re saying
“I'm really proud of the way our guys competed this weekend. They came out focused and executed our game plan to perfection against a tough JU team.”
— Joe Mercadante, Head Coach, University of North Florida Baseball
What’s next
The Ospreys will look to build on this series sweep as they continue their conference schedule, while JU will try to rebound in their next series.
The takeaway
This series victory gives the University of North Florida baseball team an important early-season boost in their crosstown rivalry with Jacksonville University, as they look to position themselves for a strong season and potential postseason berth.
