Ospreys end with exciting charge

Saturday, February 28

Jacksonville, Fla.

11 a.m.

University of North Florida

2-5

Connecticut

3-2

Connecticut

North Florida

Paul Morales smashed two home runs on Saturday.

2/28/2009 11:25:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Paul Morales finishes day with two home runs

By: Eric Scott, UNF Athletics

Box Score vs. Connecticut
Box Score vs. Ohio State

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The University of North Florida baseball team put up an exciting fight to end its day on Saturday but fell just short and went 0-2 in the Kennel Club Classic at Harmon Stadium.

Sophomore Paul Morales stood out for the Ospreys with two home runs on the day and four RBIs. Sophomore Sam Testa also stood out with five hits, including a home run. UNF totaled 22 hits against Ohio State and Connecticut.

UNF (2-6) made a near improbable comeback against Ohio State with a monstrous five-run sixth inning, which was sparked by a three-run home run by junior Preston Hale.

One at-bat later, Morales put a two-run bomb over the fence in left center, also driving in redshirt-freshman Andrew Karmeris. But in the end, it wasn't enough, as the Ospreys couldn't score any more runs the rest of the way and dropped a 10-8 contest to the Buckeyes.

The Buckeyes (6-0) got out to a 6-0 lead before UNF answered with a run in the bottom of the third when Karmeris smashed an RBI single down the left field line to drive in

Michael Smith. Testa helped the Ospreys cut OSU's lead in half in the bottom of the fourth when he crushed a home run to right center to drive in freshman TJ Gavlik. Testa finished the game 4-for-5. Junior LHP Michael Kelly tossed a solid 3.0 innings in relief, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out three. Senior RHP Ty Pryor (1-1) was charged with the loss after allowing nine runs on 10 hits, although only four of his runs were earned. Pryor also struck out five.

The Ospreys had a tough start to the day against Connecticut when they committed four errors in a 10-2 loss. UConn (3-2) put UNF in a hole early when it scored four runs in the top of the second to a take a 4-0 lead.

Junior LHP John Atteo (1-1) picked up the loss after allowing five runs on seven hits in 3.0 innings of work. Only one run was earned. Junior RHP Greg Koehler had a standout relief performance, striking out five while allowing just one run on three hits in 3.0 innings of work.

Karmeris finished his day with a team-high six hits, including a double. As a team, UNF had four total home runs.

The Ospreys will wrap up the 2009 Kennel Club Classic at 3 p.m. on Sunday when it takes on George Mason. The game will be broadcast live on WBOB-AM 1320 in Jacksonville.