University of North Florida
Valdosta State
Skorupski leads UNF past Valdosta State
4/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 20, 2005
VALDOSTA, Ga. - North Florida third baseman Jon Skorupski blasted a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning, and Sadry Café made a game-saving catch to start a double play in the bottom of the ninth inning on Wednesday night, helping rally third- ranked UNF to a 5-4 win over Valdosta State at VSU's Billy Grant Field.
The Ospreys (33-11) played the game short-handed, traveling just 12 players to the contest due to academic commitments. Included in that total were nine position players - the minimum required - and only three pitchers.
UNF (33-11) battled from behind twice to take the lead and lost it before Skorupski's two-out blast put them ahead for good. Café capped the comeback with one out in the final inning when he made a diving grab of Nick James' fly ball to right field and then threw back to double off a runner at first base to end the game.
"Our guys kept battling and got some clutch hits when we needed them," UNF head coach Dusty Rhodes said. "Sadry saved the game in the bottom of the ninth. It was good to get a win."
Robert McNeal started for the Ospreys, making his first appearance of the season after battling back from elbow surgery performed in 2004. He pitched 2.1 innings, allowing a run, three hits and two walks but was lifted in the third inning for Tony Polster.
Polster (3-0) allowed five hits and two earned runs over the next 4.2 innings to earn the win. Jared Incinelli pitched the final two innings, allowing a run and three hits to earn his fourth save.
Brennan Grogan was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, Matt Oxendine was 2-for-4 with a run scored and Café 2-for-3 to lead UNF. The Ospreys' three- run outburst in the seventh came with two out and nobody on. Grogan and Oxendine each reached on singles, and Skorupski followed with his line-drive home run to left field off VSU starter Brian Bass.
Bass (2-4) suffered the loss, allowing all five runs on eight hits and four walks in 6.2 innings. He also threw five wild pitches, which led to UNF's first two runs.
John McDonald was 2-for-3 for the Blazers (22-22).
The Ospreys return to action this weekend when they face 10th-ranked USC Aiken in a Peach Belt Conference series at Harmon Stadium. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and a third game on Sunday, also at 1 p.m. All three games can be heard via the World Wide Web at www.unfospreys.com.
