Lipscomb downs UNF in doubleheader

Saturday, April 11

Nashville, Tenn.

1 p.m.

University of North Florida

15-21, 9-8

Lipscomb

14-20, 9-5

North Florida

Lipscomb

Preston Hale blasted two home runs on Saturday.

4/11/2009 9:42:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Preston Hale blasts two home runs

By: Eric Scott, UNF Athletics

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

NASHVILLE - Despite two home runs on the day from junior Preston Hale, the University of North Florida baseball team dropped two games to Lipscomb on Saturday.

UNF (15-22, 9-9 Atlantic Sun Conference) was within 3-2 through seven and a half innings in game one but gave up three runs in the bottom of the eight and fell 6-3. Lipscomb put up six runs through the first three innings of game two, which allowed the Bisons a comfortable cushion en route to an 11-4 win.

The Ospreys left 14 runners on base for the day and were out hit 16-14. Senior starting RHP Phil Rorabaugh (1-4) was credited with the game one loss even though he tossed a solid 5.2 innings and allowed a respectable three runs while striking out four.

Junior LHP Michael Kelly (0-3) lasted just two thirds of an inning in game two and allowed three runs to pick up the loss. The Ospreys used six pitchers in the second contest.

Sophomore Michael Smith got things off to a bang for the Ospreys in the first game, leading off with a home run to left field.

UNF held on to a 1-0 lead for the next three and a half innings before Lipscomb went ahead 3-1 with a combined three runs in the fifth and sixth innings. The Ospreys cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the eighth after Hale launched a solo shot to right center.

But the Bisons countered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to extend its lead to 6-2. Smith answered the challenge with an RBI single to drive in sophomore Robbie Collier, but UNF ran out of gas after that.

After falling behind 9-1 in game two, UNF scored a combined three runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to pull to within 9-4. The rally was highlighted with Hale's second home run of the day in the top of the fourth.

The Ospreys will return to action at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Harmon Stadium for a non-conference showdown with regional rival Georgia Southern. The game will be broadcast live on WBOB-AM 1320 in Jacksonville.