Missed chances haunt Ospreys

Saturday, March 7

Sessions Stadium

1 p.m.

University of North Florida

5-7, 0

Jacksonville

5-5, 0

North Florida

Jacksonville

Sophomore Sam Perry went 2-for-3 with a double on Saturday against Jacksonville.

3/7/2009 5:36:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

UNF, JU combine to leave 24 on base

By: Eric Scott, UNF Athletics

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The University of North Florida baseball team had control for most of the game against Jacksonville on Saturday but couldn't take advantage of key opportunities and lost 4-3 at Sessions Stadium.

UNF (5-7, 1-1 Atlantic Sun Conference) took a 2-0 lead through five innings behind the wizardry of RHP John Frawley, who struck out four Dolphins behind some nasty curve balls and allowed just five hits.

But the Ospreys' difficulty to swoop in on opportunities haunted them in the bottom of the sixth when JU's Thomas Myers hit a home run to left center field to tie the ballgame at two. The Dolphins went ahead in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Esterlin Perozo off UNF RHP Ty Pryor, who entered the game in relief of Frawley after the home run in the sixth.

JU (5-5, 1-1) added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with a double down the left field line by Chuck Opachich, making the mountain a little higher for the Ospreys to climb in the ninth.

Despite the obstacle, UNF was ready for battle in the top of the ninth when junior Preston Hale walked, junior Ryan Puskar blasted a line- drive single that grazed the glove of JU third baseman Derik Grimes and junior TJ Thompson walked to load the bases with one out.

In the next at- bat, junior David Eldredge hit a sacrifice fly to right field that allowed Hale to score and cut it to 4-3. But JU's Matt Loosen shut the door against sophomore Robbie Collier, striking out Collier in three pitches.

The Ospreys got on the board first in the top of the first inning when Puskar singled in senior Brian Wilson, who led off the game with a double to center field. Redshirt freshman Andrew Karmeris extended UNF's lead to 2-0 in the top of the fifth when he smashed a solo home run to right field.

Both teams had trouble capitalizing on opportunities, combining to leave 24 on base. Puskar and sophomore Sam Perry both finished with a team-high two hits. Perry hit his third double of the year, Wilson also had his fourth two-bagger of the season.

Frawley got the no-decision for the Ospreys, while Pryor picked up the loss. JU's Joey Wedner was credited with the win and Loosen tallied the save.

The loss snapped a three-game win streak overall and three-game win streak over JU for UNF. JU extended its lead in the SunTrust River City Rumble standings to 10-3.

UNF will conclude the series at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Sessions Stadium. The game will be shown live on ASun.TV.