University of North Florida
Columbus State
Papelbon leads UNF
past Columbus State
4/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 10, 2005
COLUMBUS, Ga. - So much for late-inning drama.
For the second straight day in their Peach Belt Conference series against Columbus State, the North Florida baseball team turned to its bullpen to slam the door on a potent Cougar offense. Once again, the UNF relievers delivered.
On Sunday, Osprey closer Josh Papelbon pitched four perfect innings - allowing his only baserunner on a Jon Skorupski throwing error - and shut down Columbus State to help propel UNF to an 8-5 win over the Cougars in the rubber game of the three-game series at Ragsdale Field. UNF won 1-0 in the second game of a Saturday doubleheader after reliever Jared Incinelli allowed just one hit over the final three innings.
The Ospreys (29-10, 14-7 PBC) won two of the three games in the series and maintained a share of first place in the conference along with Kennesaw State.
Jon Skorupski was 4-for-5 with two home runs, three RBIs and three runs scored for UNF. Damon Olinto was 2-for-2 with two RBIs, including the game- winner in the seventh inning.
UNF broke out in front three times in the first six innings, only to see Columbus State (17-23, 7-14 PBC) battle its way back each time.
Home runs by Skorupski in the first inning and Brennan Grogan and Judd Loveland in the third pushed the Ospreys out to a 3-1 lead, but the Cougars answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth on a run-scoring double by Nick Shay and an RBI-single by Brad Shea.
UNF moved back in front with two runs in the fifth on Skorupski's second home run of the day, but Stephen Worrell's two-run shot in the bottom half of the inning tied the score at 5-5 against UNF starter Jacob Dixon.
Papelbon took over from there.
The Ospreys went ahead for good in the seventh on Damon Olinto's RBI-triple, which scored Skorupski, and Marion Knowles' sacrifice fly. They added another on an RBI-single by Olinto in the ninth.
Papelbon (4-1) earned the win, striking out five. Jacob Dixon started and pitched five innings for the Ospreys, allowing six hits and three earned runs while striking out eight.
Columbus State used five pitchers. Brent Benefield (1- 4) suffered the loss, allowing two hits and two runs in two innings of relief. Shea was 1-for-4 with two RBIs, while Shay was 1-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.
UNF returns to action on Tuesday night at Florida Tech in Melbourne. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
