March 31, 2007

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

NASHVILLE - The University of North Florida baseball team won its first conference series of the season after ending Saturday with a 14-4 win over Lipscomb in game two of a doubleheader at Marsh Stadium.

UNF (13-19, 4-5 Atlantic Sun Conference) exploded for 14 hits and used a monstrous 13-run fourth inning to down the Bisons in game two to take the weekend series 2-1. The colossal output of runs came after a letdown in game one, as the Ospreys committed four errors and let a two-run lead slip away in a 7-2 loss.

Freshman TJ Thompson had a breakout day, going 4-for-7 with four RBIs, a run scored and a triple. Senior first baseman Jimmy Glanville reached a personal milestone during the first game, picking up his 100th career hit. He finished the day 3-for-8 with two runs scored and three doubles.

Freshman starting LHP John Atteo improved to 3-2 after throwing seven innings and allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out five in game two.

The gigantic fourth inning for the Ospreys was highlighted by a two-run double from redshirt freshman Mycal Jones and a two-run single by Thompson. Sophomore center fielder Brian Wilson scored twice in the inning. Both Wilson and senior catcher James Belyea notched two hits in the inning.

Lipscomb got on the board first in the bottom of the first, but UNF blasted back to tie the score when junior designated hitter Travis Martin knocked an RBI single down the right field line to drive in Glanville, who led off the inning with a double.

Belyea, Martin and Thompson all finished 2-for-4 in the game. Jones went 2-for-6 with two runs scored, two doubles and two RBIs.

The day didn't start out as well as it ended for UNF, however. Senior starting RHP Derek Bell (1-1) had another strong outing but picked up the loss after lackluster fielding by the Ospreys caused him to allow four unearned runs. If the runs had not been scored, the Ospreys would have led the game 2-1 when Bell exited in the bottom of the sixth. Bell went 5.2 innings and gave up seven hits while striking out three.

The Ospreys started things off by putting two on the scoreboard in the top of the third to take a 2-0 lead. Thompson was responsible for the runs, blasting a two-run triple over the head of Lipscomb left fielder Allen Bolden to drive in senior right fielder Jon Dandridge and junior second baseman Chad Knight.

Lipscomb cut into the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Shane Simpkins hit a single to right field and Dandridge mishandled the ball, which allowed Branden Cadavid to cross the plate and make the score 2-1 in favor of UNF. The Bisons then took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the bottom of the sixth on a two-run home run and an RBI double. It proved to be all Lipscomb needed in the win.

UNF will continue its conference trek this weekend with a three-game series against Belmont. The series will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday in a twilight doubleheader. It will also be the Ospreys' first radio broadcast on their new home, WBOB-AM 1320 in Jacksonville. Live stats and audio will be available on UNFOspreys.com.