Feb. 21, 2006
Box Score
TAMPA, Fla. - The University of North Florida survived a late scare by in-state rival USF Tuesday night at Red McEwen Field to earn a 6-5 win and extend its current winning streak to five games.
UNF's win streak dates back to the Ospreys extra-inning win over LSU on Feb. 12.
The Ospreys (6-3) pounded out 10 hits in the win. Senior third baseman Grant Rogers led the way for UNF with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate. Rogers also tallied his second home run of the season en route to picking up two RBIs.
Junior right-hander Josh Papelbon earned the win for UNF after throwing 1.1 innings. The Jacksonville, Fla., native did not allow a hit, while striking out three batters. With the win Papelbon improves his record to 2-0 on the season.
Tampa, Fla., native Brad Johnson went 5.2 innings for the Ospreys allowing three runs on eight hits, while fanning three Bulls.
The Ospreys capitalized on a pair of USF errors in the first inning to take a quick 2-0 lead. Senior right fielder Damon Olinto started things off for UNF with a line-drive single to center field and then moved to third base on a fly ball off the bat of sophomore first baseman Jimmy Glanville was misplayed by USF center fielder Jim Cassidy. Glanville took second on the play putting two Ospreys into scoring position. After getting UNF junior left fielder Brett Maloley to strike out swinging, USF catcher Braulio Pardo was unable to hold onto the pitch and then fired an errant throw to first base allowing Olinto to score the first run of the game. The Ospreys took a 2-0 lead after junior catcher Brandon Diaz singled to center field to plate Glanville.
UNF added another run in the top of the second inning when Rogers tagged a Davis Bilardello pitch sending it over the left field wall to give the Ospreys a 3-0 lead.
The Ospreys tacked on one more run in the top of the third inning. Maloley started the rally with a single to left field and later scored on a single by Rogers that skipped past USF shortstop Addison Maruszak's glove and into left field to give UNF a 4-0 lead.
The Bulls sliced the UNF lead to a single run in the bottom of the sixth inning on the strength of a pair of doubles by second baseman Nick Cardieri and right fielder Joey Angelberger and a pair of infield singles by Pardo and designated hitter Brad Karns. USF left fielder Kris Howell opened the inning with a single and later scored on Cardieri's double to net the Bulls their first run of the game. Back-to-back singles by Pardo and Karns loaded the bases for Angelberger who plated two runs with his double to make the score 4-3.
UNF extended its lead to 5-2 in the top of the seventh inning. Senior center fielder Brennan Grogan opened the inning with a double to left-center field. After a pair of walks to Olinto and Glanville, pinch hitter Jon Dandridge plated Grogan on a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Bulls tied the game at five runs apiece in the bottom of the seventh inning when Howell singled to short and then scored on a double to the right-field wall by Brian Baisley. After UNF shortstop Andy Warren's relay throw to third base sailed high and into the USF dugout Baisley crossed the plate to knot the game at 5-5.
UNF took the lead for good in the top of the ninth inning. After a single by Glanville and Dandridge reaching base after being hit by a pitch, senior catcher Jonathan Hodach singled to left-center field to give UNF a 6-5 lead.
The Ospreys will be back in action on Saturday when they open their 2006 home slate with Western Michigan. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
