April 16, 2005

Box Score (gm. 1)

Box Score (gm. 2)

SPARTANBURG, S.C.- The University of South Carolina Spartanburg will have to wait for another day before they can snap their now 21- game losing streak to the University of North Florida baseball team.

UNF overcame deficits in both games of a double header on Saturday to come away with the first two games of the three game series, 8-5 and 8- 7.

After scoring two runs in the top of the sixth, North Florida gave those two runs back in the bottom of the inning, finding itself down 4-2 after six in game one. The Ospreys got things rolling in the seventh, scoring four runs on three hits. RBI singles by Jon Skorupski and Marion Knowles, coupled with an RBI double by Sadry Café helped UNF capture a lead that they would not relinquish.

Batters 2-4, Matt Oxendine, Skorupski and Café went a combined 9-13 with two RBI's and three runs scored. Skorupski, who finished 4 for 5, also added two stolen bases, as Josh Howard chipped in with two hits, an RBI and one stolen base.

Starter Ryan Amason pitched a solid five innings, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out six in the no-decision. Closer Josh Papelbon (5-1) threw 3.2 innings of relief, surrendering just one run on four hits in earning the victory.

Game two was scheduled for seven innings, but the full nine were required to determine who would strike last.

UNF took an early 3-0 lead after three innings thanks in part to a USCU throwing error that allowed two to score in the first inning. Skorupski then added an RBI single in the third that scored Brennan Grogan.

The Spartans stormed back, scoring two in the fourth and took the lead in the fifth after scoring five more runs.

Starter Kyle Aylor lasted 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on just two hits. He was replaced by relievers Jared Incinelli and Tony Polster, who were tagged for a combined five runs in two-thirds of an inning.

Down 7-4, the Ospreys scored three runs in the sixth to tie, thanks to an RBI double by Grogan and a single by Oxendine that knocked in two. Grogan finished the game 5 for 5, scoring three runs and knocking in one.

The score remained tied 7-7 until the ninth when Marion Knowles knocked in Skorupski giving North Florida an 8-7 lead, and an eventual victory.

Jeremy Papelbon (3-2) earned the win after throwing 4.2 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just three hits while striking out four.

UNF improved its record to 31-11 overall and 16-7 in the PBC with the two wins. Upstate falls to 31-17 overall, with a 13-13 conference mark. The two teams will face each other again on Sunday in the final game of the series. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.