Four-run ninth not enough for UNF

Tuesday, March 10

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

5-9

Troy

9-4

Troy

North Florida

Sophomore Michael Smith hit a three-run bomb in the bottom of the ninth on Tuesday.

3/11/2009 12:23:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Ospreys fall to Troy, 8-7

By: Eric Scott, UNF Athletics

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - With four runs in the bottom of the ninth, the University of North Florida baseball team made an exciting charge at Troy but lost 8-7 on Tuesday night at Harmon Stadium.

Sophomore Michael Smith tied his career high in RBIs with four and had two runs scored. In the bottom of the ninth with freshmen Alex Rodriguez and Steve Hillan on base, Smith crushed a home run to left center field to bring the Ospreys to within one run of Troy's lead.

UNF (5-9) began the scoring in the inning when Rodriguez hit a pinch-hit RBI double to the gap in right that allowed junior Michael Gropper to score. Gropper led off the inning with a single to left center, which was followed by a Hillan single.

After recording just one hit through seven innings, the Ospreys exploded for a combined eight hits over the last two innings. UNF's comeback began in the bottom of the eighth when redshirt freshman Andrew Karmeris singled to left field to bring in Smith to score.

Troy (9-4) got on the board first in the top of the second on a two-run triple down the right field line by Chad Watson. The Trojans added another run in the top of the fifth on a Brett Henry sacrifice fly.

The Ospreys answered in the bottom of the fifth with two runs to pull to within 3-2. Senior Brian Wilson put the first run up when he hit a sacrifice fly to center field that allowed junior TJ Thompson to score. Sophomore Sam Perry scored on the next play on an RBI groundout by Smith.

Junior Michael Kelly (0-1) was credited with the loss despite a solid 4.0 innings, allowing four hits and three runs, two of which were earned. Junior Kristopher Linster shut down the Trojans his lone inning of relief and struck out one.

Three of UNF's hits and runs came from non- starters. Rodriguez's double was his first career hit. The Ospreys finished 5-for-16 with runners in scoring position and 3-for-10 with RBI opportunities.

UNF will return to action at 7 p.m. on Wednesday to take on Troy at Harmon Stadium in the final contest of the two-game series. The game will be broadcast live on WBOB-AM 1320 in Jacksonville.