University of North Florida Athletics - Tar Heels spoil UNF's good start

Tar Heels spoil UNF's good start

Ospreys able to jump out to 5-1 lead against UNC

Eric Scott, UNF Athletics

Senior T.J. Gaudy had two RBIs against No. 2 North Carolina on Wednesday.

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5/7/2008 8:52:13 PM

CARY, N.C. - The University of North Florida baseball team played like a team with no fear against mighty No. 2 North Carolina and jumped out to an early 5-1 lead but couldn't keep up with the Tar Heels' heavy bats and fell 11-5 on Wednesday at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.

Senior T.J. Gaudy put up two RBIs to pace the Ospreys in run production. Senior Travis Martin produced a team-high two hits. UNF pitchers allowed 17 UNC hits, four of which went for extra bases.

Sophomore RHP Jonathan Turner (0-3) picked up the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits while recording two strikeouts in 3.2 innings pitched. The Ospreys also committed two crucial errors in the bottom of the third that allowed the Tar Heels to narrow UNF's early lead.

UNF (26-22) jumped on UNC in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead when Martin was able to drive home sophomore T.J. Thompson when he slipped an RBI single up the middle. After the Tar Heels tied it with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, the Ospreys exploded and grasped the lead.

With two outs and their backs against the wall, the Ospreys responded with four runs to take a 5-1 lead. Sophomore Andrew Hannon got it going when he blasted an RBI single to right center that brought sophomore Preston Hale in to score.

Gaudy put a jolt into the UNF bench when he stayed back on a curve ball from UNC's Patrick Johnson and chucked a two-run single into center field to bring Hannon and Martin in to score. Freshman Robbie Collier capped the rally with a single to left that allowed senior Andy Warren to cross the plate.

But that was all UNF could muster at the plate after the Tar Heels (40-8) came back to score eight unanswered runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Phil Rorabaugh, Antonio Franzese and Tyler Stohr combined to shut down UNC over the game's final three innings.

UNF will return to action on Saturday for the start of a crucial three-game series with conference rival Kennesaw State in Kennesaw, Ga. It will be a battle between the third and fourth place teams in the Atlantic Sun, and the winner of the series has a chance to move into second place. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. The games will be webcast live on UNFOspreys.com.