FORT MYERS, Fla. -- In their annual early-season scrimmage, the Northeastern University Huskies fell to the Boston Red Sox by a score of 18-3 on Friday afternoon at JetBlue Park.

The Huskies struck first in the top of the first when Harrison Feinberg led off with a single and promptly stole second, setting the table for Ryan Gerety, who singled through the right side to bring Feinberg home for a 1-0 lead.

NU added to its advantage in the second when Anthony Ruggiero singled and used his legs to manufacture the second run, stealing second and then third before scoring on a throwing error by Red Sox catcher Ronald Rosario to push the Husky lead to 2-1.

Starter Robbie O'Connor turned in the pitching highlight of the afternoon, retiring the Sox in order in the bottom of the second—capping the frame with a strikeout of Allan Castro—to keep the Huskies' 2-1 lead intact. O'Connor worked two innings in total, allowing a first-inning run before settling in.

The Red Sox answered with three runs in the third and four more in the fourth to take control, then tacked on a run in the fifth before an explosive nine-run sixth inning put the game out of reach at 18-2. 

Northeastern closed out the scoring in the top of the seventh when pinch hitter Cooper Tarantino singled to center and came around to score on a run-scoring single by Will Fosberg, giving the game its 18-3 final. 

The Huskies will continue their Florida trip this weekend with a two-game series against the University of Minnesota in Fort Myers on Saturday, February 21 at 6:05 p.m. and Sunday, February 22 at 1:00 p.m.