University of North Florida
USC Aiken
Dixon propels UNF in regional
5/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 19, 2005
Box Score l 2005 South Atlantic Regional Home Page
JACKSONVILE, Fla. - University of North
Florida pitcher Jacob Dixon stared down USC Aiken
hurler Steve Dunham Thursday in a 3-1 Osprey win
that propelled UNF to the winner's bracket in the
South Atlantic Regional at Harmon Stadium.
The top-seeded Ospreys scored three runs in the
bottom of the second inning, then turned the game
over to Dixon, who surrendered only four hits and
struck out five in the complete-game win.
UNF (42-14) will now face Kennesaw State on Friday
at 3 p.m., while Aiken (39-17) must fight its way out
of the loser's bracket starting with Francis Marion at
11 a.m. on Friday.
Josh Howard gave UNF all the scoring it needed in
the bottom of the second inning, driving home a pair
of runs with a base hit to left. A third run came in on
the play when Pacer left fielder Brandon Barenie
watched Howard's base hit deflect off his knee.
Brennan Grogan scored on the play to give the
Ospreys a 3-0 advantage.
Aiken took one of those runs back in the top of the
fourth inning when Daniel Quartararo reached on a
leadoff walk and later came in to score on a Steven
Kinney sacrifice fly to left.
After putting a pair of runners on in the first inning
with nobody out, then giving up the three runs in the
second inning, Dunham (7-4) settled down to keep
his squad in the game. He finished with a complete-
game five hitter, allowing two earned runs while
giving up five walks and striking out four.
Those three runs that he allowed proved costly, as
Dixon stayed out of trouble most of the night, before
finally allowing a two-out walk in the ninth inning to
Darryl Pui. Dixon rebounded from that to strike out
Marc Joehnk and end the game.
Nobody in either lineup collected more than one hit
on the evening.
UNF will meet Kennesaw State on Friday for the
fourth time this season. The Ospreys have taken the
three previous meeting with the Owls this season.
Every game of the South Atlantic Regional can be
followed on Game Tracker and heard live at www.unfospreys.com.
Postgame Quotes
USC Aiken head coach Kenny Thomas:
"This was a well-pitched game on both sides. A kicked ball in the outfield was the difference in the game - A tough play. Dixon had us out of control at the plate. He had us swinging at pitches at our chin and ankles. He pitched extremely well, did a good job keeping us off stride. Once he got into his groove, we were totally out of control. "
On the kick play in left:
"It was a hard-hit ball that could have possibly only scored just one run. We kick it from one outfielder to another, then bounced it past home plate. Tough play."
UNF starting pitcher Jacob Dixon
"Coach said we needed to get eight or nine innings from me tonight. I always aim to get at least seven in every start. It was good that we didn't need to use our bullpen tonight."
On last season:
"Instead of being depressed about it, I used last season as a learning experience. I kept pitching charts, so I know how to pitch to these guys this season. It's good to be back after I started out slow. It feels like I'm getting into a groove lately."
UNF head coach Dusty Rhodes:
"Both teams deserve to be here. The pitchers did a great job tonight. Dixon is getting better and better every outing. He did an outstanding job tonight. The game could have gone either way. We were lucky.
"Dixon bared down and was moving the ball in and out. The complete game puts us in a good situation, because I know that Kennesaw had to use its bullpen a bit today. (USC Aiken) made a couple of mistakes. Howard's was the hit of the game."
"Their coaches have done a great job with the team, and they deserve to be here."
"I wasn't going to take (Dixon) out. I visited the mound to buy him some time. He was throwing too well to take him out."
