UCF defeats Ospreys, 8-2

Wednesday, April 1

Orlando, Fla.

6:30 p.m.

University of North Florida

12-17

UCF

8-20

North Florida

UCF

Michael Smith tied his career high with four hits on Wednesday.

4/1/2009 10:26:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Michael Smith goes 4-for-5

By: Eric Scott, UNF Athletics

Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. - Sophomore Michael Smith hit a career-high four hits but it wasn't enough for the University of North Florida baseball team to override the hot bats of UCF in an 8- 2 UNF loss on Wednesday night at Jay Bergman Field.

Smith's mark tied the game high with UCF's Shane Brown, who also went 4-for-5. Junior David Eldredge had a perfect night at the plate, going 2- for-2. UNF's (12-17) loss to UCF (8-20) was its first to the Knights since 1992.

Sophomore LHP Robbie Collier stood out for the Ospreys on the mound, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings and allowed just two hits while striking out four. It was Collier's second scoreless outing this season.

After the Knights put up runs in the first and third, the Ospreys got in rolling in the top of the fourth when Eldredge hit a two-out single through the hole at shortstop. Junior Kevin Martin followed it up by crushing a 2-1 fastball over the left field fence for a two- run homer to tie the game at two. It was Martin's team- leading fourth home run of the season.

UCF's three-run fourth and sixth innings put the game out of reach for UNF. The Ospreys threatened in the top of the eighth but couldn't get it done.

Junior Justin Preckajlo hit a one-out single to left field but got a little too aggressive and took off for second when the throw came in from the outfield to first. UCF first baseman Kiko Vazquez threw out Preckajlo at second for the second out. Following that, redshirt freshman Andrew Karmeris hit a double to left to extend his 11-game hitting streak. The two-bagger would have driven in Preckajlo.

UNF got consecutive two-out singles from freshman Alex Rodriguez and Smith in the top of the ninth, but senior Brian Wilson popped out to first to end the game.

Senior RHP Ty Pryor (2-5) was credited with the loss after giving up five runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings of work.

The Knights threw eight pitchers at the Ospreys and didn't allow a walk, which is just the second time it has happened to UNF this season. It was also the most pitchers the Ospreys faced in a game this season.

UNF will return to action this weekend for a three- game series with Atlantic Sun Conference foe East Tennessee State, beginning with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday. The Ospreys will look to extend their five-game conference winning streak, which would be a Division I program best.