University of North Florida
Lander
Ospreys sweep Lander with 6-2 win
4/3/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 3, 2005
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida outfielder Sadry Café capped a mammoth weekend at the plate by going 1-for-3 with two RBIs, and first baseman Marion Knowles added his team-leading 11th home run and two RBIs, to propel the Ospreys to a 6-2 win over Peach Belt Conference foe Lander on Sunday afternoon at Harmon Stadium.
The victory gave third-ranked UNF (27-9, 12-6 PBC) a three-game sweep of the 24th-ranked Bearcats (21-15, 8-9 PBC) and kept the Ospreys in first place atop the conference standings. The win was UNF's 23rd in its last 28 games and the Ospreys' sixth consecutive overall.
"This time of year is all about winning series and doing what you have to do," UNF head coach Dusty Rhodes said. "Getting a sweep was big. We did it against a tough team and got ourselves back where we want to be."
Lander outhit the Ospreys 11-7 but committed three errors, which led to three unearned runs.
Café finished the series 7-for-11 with a home run, 10 RBIs and two runs scored. On Sunday, his bases-loaded walk in the third inning pushed UNF ahead 2-1. He added an RBI-single in the seventh.
UNF fell behind 1-0 in the second inning on an RBI-single by catcher Adam Strongman. The Ospreys tied the game in the bottom half of the inning after an error by Lander right fielder James Compo allowed Marion Knowles to reach. UNF catcher Judd Loveland drove Knowles home with a two-out single to tie the game.
Café then walked with the bases loaded in the third to break the deadlock, and Knowles followed with an RBI groundout to push UNF ahead 3- 1. The Ospreys added another run in the sixth on Knowles' home run and two unearned runs in the seventh to put the game out of reach.
Jacob Dixon (2-3) earned his second consecutive win, allowing nine hits and three walks in 6.1 innings. Jeremy Papelbon pitched the final 2.2, allowing two hits while striking out three, to pick up his first save.
Starter Chris Marks (1-4) suffered the loss for Lander, allowing four hits and three runs in 3.2 innings.
UNF will return to action on Tuesday night when the Ospreys travel to the Jacksonville Baseball Grounds to face the Jacksonville Suns (AA Southern League) in an exhibition game. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. For ticket information, call 620-2263.
