JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It was all University of North Florida through seven innings of Atlantic Sun Conference baseball action Thursday night at Harmon Stadium, but Kennesaw State fought back to push the game into extra innings and emerge with a series-opening 6-5 win in 11 innings.
UNF (22-30, 14-14 A-Sun) took an immediate 4-0 lead in the opening frame on junior Justin Preckajlo's fourth home run of the season. He belted a three-run shot after junior TJ Thompson drove in a run with a single to left field. However, KSU (29-21, 19-8) pitcher Kyle Heckathorn buckled down to strikeout 15 batters in his nine innings of work, silencing the Ospreys' bats for the remainder of his time on the mound. The Owls plated a single run in the sixth inning before evening things at 4-4 in the eighth.
Senior John Frawley went a full nine innings for UNF as well, also allowing four runs (three earned) with five strikeouts. KSU notched four of its 11 hits off Frawley in the eighth inning after opening the frame with three-straight base knocks. With the score knotted at 4-4, the Owls used Jace Whitmer's single to right field in the 10th inning to score the go-ahead run and take a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the frame. The Ospreys tied the game when junior Kyle Dahl knocked a sacrifice fly into center field. UNF had a chance to put the game away with the bases loaded, but Kenny Faulk (7-4) struck out Steve Hillan to end the threat. Andrew Martin walked to open the top of the 11th for the Owls, moved to second on a sacrifice but and then to third on an error. With one out and the bases loaded, Whitaker grounded to Thompson at second base, but the Ospreys could not turn the double play and Martin crossed the plate as the eventual winning run.
After tossing two thirds of an inning, senior Ty Pryor (2-7) was tagged with the loss. Senior Brian Wilson, sophomore Michael Smith and Preckajlo each finished with three hits on the night. The Ospreys outhit KSU 16-12 in the contest but allowed two unearned runs on three errors. The two teams will square off for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Friday at Harmon Stadium as the Ospreys close out their 2009 season.
