Box Score (PDF)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida (28-13, 6-4 A-Sun) had a late game comeback fall short as the Dolphins held on for a 3-2 win at Harmon Stadium. Jacksonville pulled within a game of .500 mark, improving to 18-19 on the year and 4-3 in Atlantic Sun play.
In front of the largest crown this season at Harmon Stadium, Jacksonville starting pitcher Michael Baumann held the A-Sun's top offense in check all evening. The freshman threw 102 pitches in seven innings and allowed only three North Florida hits. He only fanned one batter and lowered his league-leading ERA to 1.87.
Glad to see Baumann finally exit, the Ospreys scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to pull within a run. Junior
Kyle Brooks came around on a throwing error and
Keith Skinner singled in
Donnie Dewees for the second Osprey run.
Jackonville's Conner Marabell, who homered in last year's series at Harmon Stadium, kicked off the scoring for Jacksonville in the top of the second with his fourth home run of the year. The Dolphins added to the 1-0 advantage with two more runs in the fourth. Angelo Amendolare's ground rule double plated Jacksonville's second run of the night and he later scored on a sacrifice fly by Austin Hays.
North Florida starting pitcher
Evan Incinelli took the tough-luck loss in his longest outing of the season. He pitched into the eighth inning for the second time in his career and struck out three batters on the night. In five of his six starts this season the senior right-hander has kept his opponents to three runs or less.
The Osprey defense turned two double plays behind Incinelli and was errorless for the 20
th time this season. North Florida came into the ranked second in the country in fielding percentage and sixth in double plays.
A total of seven runners were left on base for the Ospreys including four in scoring position and three on third base. North Florida also had the lead-off man on twice against Baumann who induced 12 ground outs and eight fly outs.
Nathan Disch completed the four-out save, his team-best fifth of the season. The Dolphins improve 19-8 all-time at Harmon Stadium and have now won four of the last six games against the Ospreys.
The River City Rumble will continue tomorrow at Harmon Stadium with the second of three between North Florida and Jacksonville at 1:00 p.m. The Ospreys will send sophomore right-hand
Bryan Baker (4-2) to the mound who makes his first start since Mar. 21. A starter has yet to be announced for Jacksonville. The first 300 students will receive a FREE tank top at tomorrow's game.
