University of North Florida
USC Aiken
#3 Ospreys sweep doubleheader
from #8 USC Aiken
4/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 23, 2005
BOX SCORE (Gm 1)
BOX SCORE (Gm 2)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The University of North Florida baseball team pounded out 12 hits in the second game of a doubleheader against eighth-ranked USC Aiken on Saturday afternoon, scoring six runs in a decisive second inning, to cap an afternoon sweep of the Pacers at Harmon Stadium, 8-6 and 10-4.
UNF, ranked third in the latest Division II poll, took a giant step toward claiming its third consecutive Peach Belt Conference crown with the wins. The Ospreys (35-11, 19-7 PBC) now lead the third-place Pacers (36-13, 13-10 PBC) by three full games in the league standings and second-place Kennesaw State by two games. UNF has only four conference games remaining, including the third game of this weekend's series against USC Aiken scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Senior third baseman Jon Skorupski was 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and five RBIs for the Ospreys in game two, including a two-run shot in the first inning and a three-run blast in the second. That helped push UNF out to an 8-0 lead and chase USC Aiken starter Derek Claussen with just one out in the second.
Kyle Aylor (7-1) and Jeremy Papelbon took over on the mound from there, holding the Pacers at bay down the stretch to give the Ospreys their sixth consecutive win. Aylor allowed five hits and three runs in four innings to earn the win, while Papelbon pitched the final three innings for his second save. Claussen (4-4) allowed seven runs and six hits to suffer the loss.
Sadry Café was 3-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored for UNF, while Josh Howard was 2-for-4. USC Aiken's Darryl Pui was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored - capping an impressive day in which he combined to go 6-for-8.
In game one, UNF had to battle from behind twice to get the win - scoring three runs in the seventh to break a 5-5 tie. Five Ospreys collected multiple hits, including Marion Knowles and Damon Olinto, who each delivered RBI-singles in the decisive seventh inning.
USC Aiken took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third against UNF starter Ryan Amason on back-to-back run-scoring doubles by Daniel Quartararo and Robert Davis. After UNF battled back with four runs over the next two innings to take a 4-3 lead, Quartararo and Davis went back to work - hitting back-to-back solo home runs in the fifth to push the Pacers back ahead 5-4.
A Howard sacrifice fly tied the game in the bottom half of the inning, and things stayed that way until UNF took the lead for good in the seventh.
Jared Incinelli (3-1) earned the win for UNF, allowing two hits and a run in 2.1 innings of relief. Josh Papelbon recorded his ninth save by pitching 1.1 scoreless innings to finish out the game. Steve Dunham (6-2) suffered the loss for the Pacers, allowing five earned runs and nine hits in six-plus innings.
Quartararo was 3-for-3 with three RBIs in the first game, while Robert Davis was 3-for-5 two RBIs. Sunday's game will be carried live via the World Wide Web at www.unfospreys.com.
