University of North Florida
UCF
UNF completes sweep of UCF
4/15/2008 9:59:00 PM | Baseball
Ospreys improve to 7-5 against in-state opponents
Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The University of North Florida baseball team clinched a season sweep over in-state rival UCF on Tuesday with a 5-3 win at Harmon Stadium.
Senior Mike P. Smith went 2-for-3 with a run scored and had the game-winning RBI. Senior Chad Knight extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a 3-for-5 performance, while senior Andy Warren also extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a 1-for-4, one run performance.
Sophomore RHP Tucker Pryor picked up his fourth win of the season with 2.0 innings of scoreless relief, while junior closer Tyler Stohr notched his ninth save of the season, tying him for fifth in the nation.
UNF (21-16) grabbed hold of the lead in the bottom of the eighth after the score stood deadlocked at three for two and a half innings. Freshman Sam Perry was walked to begin the inning and moved over to scoring position on a passed ball.
Sophomore Michael Gropper then moved Perry over to third and reached base when his bunt tiptoed the third base line and stayed fair. Smith drove in the winning run in the next at-bat with a hot shot up the middle. The Ospreys later added an insurance run when senior Travis Martin was walked with the bases loaded.
The Ospreys took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth on a rally that was sparked by five-straight singles. Warren, senior T.J. Gaudy, Perry, Gropper and Smith all had successive singles that put UNF ahead.
Gropper and Perry finished with an RBI. Sophomore starting RHP Jonathan Turner lasted 5.0 innings and allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits in the no-decision. The win improved the Ospreys to 7-5 over in-state teams this season.
UNF will return to action at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in a showdown with No. 1 Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla. The Seminoles are coming off a 4-2 win over No. 21 Florida on Tuesday. The game will be broadcast live on WBOB-AM 1320, and live stats will be available on UNFOspreys.com.
