JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — A dominant collective effort from North Florida’s bullpen and a decisive two-run single from Gialdri Gomez propelled the Ospreys to a 4-2 victory over the Jacksonville Dolphins in an ASUN Conference series opener Friday night at John Sessions Stadium.

The Ospreys (14-12, 1-0 ASUN) broke open a tight game with a three-run fifth inning, while four North Florida relievers combined for 5 2/3 hitless innings to seal the win. Jacksonville fell to 12-14 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

The game’s pivotal sequence came in the top of the fifth inning with North Florida leading 1-0. The Ospreys loaded the bases against Jacksonville starter Alex Walsh, who then surrendered a sacrifice fly to Jackson Toberman that scored Santiago Ordonez. After a walk reloaded the bases, Dolphins reliever Dominic Pieto entered and immediately unleashed a wild pitch, allowing Mitchell Collins to score. Gomez followed by lacing a two-run single up the middle, scoring Mathew Farner and Boone Hosey to extend the lead to 4-0. Gomez was thrown out trying to advance to second on the play, but the damage was done.

Jacksonville’s only offense came via small ball and opportunistic plays. The Dolphins scored an unearned run in the third inning when Cade Walter came home on a passed ball after he and Sam Mummau executed a double steal. Their final run came in the seventh when Roger Vergara doubled down the right-field line to plate Archer Ogbourne, who had been hit by a pitch and advanced on a balk.

The most important part of the game, however, was the suffocating performance by the North Florida pitching staff after starter Dakota Stone departed. Stone, the top star for North Florida, set the tone with 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out three. Brandon Adams, Devin Diggs and Clay Hendry then preserved the lead with zeroes. Adams was particularly sharp, striking out four over 2 2/3 perfect innings of relief. Jacksonville managed only three hits total, all off Hendry in the seventh inning.

Walsh took the loss for Jacksonville, allowing four runs on three hits over 4 2/3 innings. The Dolphins bullpen of Pieto, Kyle Powers and Scout Updike kept the game close, allowing just five hits over the final 4 1/3 frames, but the Jacksonville offense could not solve the Ospreys’ relievers.

North Florida outhit Jacksonville eight to three. Gomez finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs to lead the Ospreys’ attack. Vergara’s RBI double was the lone extra-base hit for the Dolphins.

The win improved North Florida to a winning record overall and gave them an early edge in the conference series. The loss continued a pattern of narrow defeats for Jacksonville, which has struggled in close games this season.

The two teams are scheduled to continue their three-game series Saturday afternoon at John Sessions Stadium.