Feb. 14, 2007

Final Stats |  Photo Gallery 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The University of North Florida baseball team had a tough Georgia Southern team against the fence on Wednesday, but a big six-run ninth inning by GSU sent the Ospreys to a 13-9 loss in the home opener at Harmon Stadium.

UNF (0-4) took a 9-7 lead going into the top of the ninth, but sophomore RHP Antonio Franzese wasn't able to shut the door on the Eagles, allowing three runs that gave GSU a 10-9 lead. Franzese didn't get much help from his infield, as an error by redshirt freshman shortstop Mycal Jones helped spark the Eagles rally. Senior RHP Derek Bell tried to close out the inning but couldn't fare much better, allowing three runs.

GSU's Kyle Kamppi turned out the lights on the Ospreys in the bottom of the ninth, as he struck out both Paul Morales and Preston Hale. Junior second baseman Mike Smith reached base on a walk, but Kamppi put a stop to the momentum with a flyout by Jones.

One of the positives for the Ospreys was they were able to find something that had eluded them in the first three games - run production. UNF took the ninth inning lead with back-to-back two-run innings in the seventh and eighth. In the bottom of the seventh, freshman TJ Thompson hit an RBI double to right center that drove in senior Matt Belyea. Hale followed it up with an RBI infield single to tie the game at seven. Belyea's two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the eighth gave UNF the lead.

Freshman RHP George Lott made his collegiate debut with his start for UNF and allowed five earned runs on four hits in 4.2 innings. Belyea finished with monster numbers, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored.

The Ospreys will try to get some winning momentum going this weekend when they take on the No. 22 Tulane Green Wave at Zephyr Field in New Orleans. The series kicks off on Friday at 7:30 p.m., followed with the second game at 2 p.m. on Saturday and then the finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Live stats will be available for the series on UNFOspreys.com.