Box Score (PDF)
ORLANDO, Fla. – After North Florida tied the game up in the top half of the eighth inning, UCF (5-0) went on to score the deciding run in the bottom half, sealing a 5-4 victory at Jay Bergman Field. The Ospreys had their three-game win streak snapped and fall to 3-2 on the year.
 
Trailing 4-3 going into the eighth inning, Keith Skinner started the game-tying, one-out rally with a single up the middle. Two batters later, Nick Karmeris ripped a double down the right field line that scored pinch-runner, Dalton Board from second base to tie the game at four.
 
As the Knights did earlier in the contest, the responded quickly in the bottom half of the inning, this time with just two swings of the bat. Sophomore Logan Heiser beat out an infield hit and scored when the very next batter, Austin Griffin, smoked a 2-0 pitch off the center field wall. Heiser scored all the way from first and that proved to be all the Knights needed to remain unbeaten on the young season.
 
Karmeris was one of eight different Ospreys to tally one of the team's nine hits on the night. Junior Patrick Ervin put forth the team's lone multiple-hit effort, going 2-for-5 with an RBI.
 
The Ospreys took the game's initial lead with a three-run rally in the top of the second inning. RBI singles from Alex Merritt, Kyle Brooks, and Ervin put North Florida out in front, 3-0. The offensive outburst also spelled the end of UCF starting pitcher Eric Hepple's evening.
 
The Knights wasted little time capturing the lead with a four-run onslaught of their own in the bottom half of the frame. The big inning was capped by a three-run home run by Ryan Crile. The left hander stroked a 1-1 fastball off the scoreboard in right-centerfield.
 
North Florida sent six pitchers to the mound, four of which were responsible for scoreless outings. Lefty Tyler DuPont was on the hill for a team-high, 2.2 innings and struck out one batter. Anthony Delaney, Daniel Moritz and Austin Drury all proved to be effective in keeping UCF off the scoreboard.
 
UCF avenged last year's upset win for the Ospreys in Orlando over a then-ranked No. 24 Knight team. North Florida still holds a 10-8 advantage in the all-time series against UCF. The two teams will square off one more time this season in Jacksonville on Tuesday April, 19.
 
The Ospreys return home this weekend to host the University of Hartford at Harmon Stadium. The series opener is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. The first 50 fans in attendance will receive a free hat courtesy of Dome hats and fans 21 & older can enjoy 2-for-1 beers from the concession stand.