April 21, 2007

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The University of North Florida baseball team couldn't figure out a way to get it done in a doubleheader on Saturday against Mercer at Harmon Stadium, dropping both games by scores of 10-0 and 4-3.

UNF (16-27, 6-11 Atlantic Sun Conference) mustered just nine hits total on the day and were shut out for the third time this season. Freshman TJ Thompson continued to tear it up for the Ospreys, finishing 3-for-6 on the day with a double and a run scored. The only other Osprey to finish with one hit was sophomore Brian Wilson, who went 2-for-6 with a run scored.

The Ospreys held a 3-1 lead going into the top of the seventh in the second game, but Mercer was able to tie the game when senior starting RHP Derek Bell began to run into a bit of trouble. Bell exited the game after loading the bases and walking a run in. Sophomore RHP Tyler Stohr came in and allowed one of Bell's runners to score on a fielder's choice that tied the score. Nevertheless, Bell still had a solid outing, tossing six innings and allowing three runs on seven hits.

Both pitching staffs shut the other team down over the next couple of innings, and the game went into extras. Mercer didn't take long, however, to seal the game once it was extended. The Bears scored the go-ahead run in the top of the tenth on an error by redshirt freshman Mycal Jones and went on to shut down UNF in the bottom of the inning when Cory Gearrin struck out to close it out and pick up the save.

UNF was able to take the lead earlier in the game after falling behind 1-0 in the top of the fourth. Thompson tied it in the bottom of the fifth after he advanced to third from first on a wild pitch by Mercer's Boone Webster, and James Belyea drove Thompson home on an RBI groundout. Jones drove in Wilson when he beat out a double play attempt and reach on a fielder's choice. Junior Travis Martin was able to tack on another run when he crossed the plate on an error by Mercer's Mike Armstrong.

Stohr (0-5) picked up the loss despite an impressive four innings of relief. He allowed one run on two hits and struck out three.

The first game wasn't nearly as back-and-forth as the day's finale. Mercer (25-18, 10-7) made it a lopsided affair and roughed up UNF ace LHP Brad Johnson (3-6) for eight runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings. Johnson struck out five in the loss.

But Johnson could have cut his allowed run total in half, and it still wouldn't have mattered. The Ospreys could manage only three hits off Mercer RHP Brantley New. UNF didn't collect its final hit until the seventh inning when freshman TJ Thompson led it off with a double. The Bears' 10-run margin after seven innings was enough to end the game because it was a doubleheader.

It was the second time this season UNF lost by 10 at home and the sixth occurrence of the Ospreys not notching at least five hits in a game.

The Ospreys will conclude the series at 1 p.m. tomorrow against Mercer at Harmon Stadium. Live stats and audio will be available on UNFOspreys.com.