University of North Florida
Eastern Michigan
Ospreys Battle Hard, Fall to Eastern Michigan
2/28/2010 3:44:00 PM | Baseball
Boxscore
MOBILE, Ala. – The University of North Florida baseball team fell 10-8 to Eastern Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 28, in the final game of the South Alabama Classic.
The Ospreys (1-5) out hit the Eagles (2-3), 12-to-11, but a pair of costly innings hurt UNF. Despite the two bad innings, North Florida rallied and had a chance to win the game in the end. After surrendering five runs in the third inning to fall behind 6-4, the Ospreys tied the score with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. North Florida allowed four runs in the bottom of the eighth, but scored two in the top of the ninth and had the go ahead run on base in final inning.
Junior Andrew Hannon led all UNF batters with three hits on the afternoon. He finished the day 3-for-5 with a walk, a double and three runs batted in. Junior Michael Smith and sophomores T.J. Gavlik and Andrew Karmeris had two hits apiece. Smith scored a run and drove in a pair, while Gavlik scored a run and had an RBI.
Junior Casey Medlen (0-2) took the loss. Medlen tossed 5.2 innings in relief scattering six hits and fanning six batters.
UNF threatened in the first inning. Hannon led off the game with a single up the middle. He advanced to second on a fielding error by EMU that allowed Robbie Collier to reach first safely. With two runners on base and no outs, Preston Hale followed with a single through the right side of the infield. The Eagles escaped the inning without any damage as a strikeout and double play ended the inning and the Osprey threat.
Eastern Michigan also threatened to score a run in the first inning. Like the Ospreys, EMU led off the game with a single. A sacrifice bunt and a ground out moved the runner to third base. After a walk left the designated home team with runners on the corners, UNF starting pitcher Clayton Schulz induced a ground ball to short for the final out of the inning.
North Florida took the lead in the top of the second inning. With two outs, junior Kyle Dahl worked the count full before drawing a walk. Gavlik hit the second pitch he saw and drove it into left center field for a standup double. Dahl came across to score on the play to give UNF a 1-0 advantage. Hannon continued the inning with a single to right center field. Gavlik scored from second on the play to put the Ospreys ahead, 2-0.
The Eagles scored a run in the bottom of the second inning to cut the Osprey lead to 2-1. A one-out single gave EMU a base runner. The runner stole second base and advanced to third on a ground out. He came across to score on a fielding error by UNF.
UNF increased its lead to 4-1 in the top of the third inning. Once again the rally came with two outs. David Eldredge drew a free pass and T.J. Thompson followed with a four-pitch walk. Eldredge advanced to third on a wild pitch, but it didn't matter as Smith delivered a two-RBI double to left center field to give the Ospreys a three-run advantage.
Eastern Michigan took the lead in the bottom of the third inning courtesy of five runs on three hits, two errors and a hit batter. A fielding error by UNF started off the inning and back-to-back singles scored the first run of the inning. After a pitching change, a hit batter loaded the bases for the Eagles. A base clearing double gave EMU a 5-4 advantage. A two base error allowed the final run to score. Two ground outs and a strikeout ended the inning, but the damage had been done and the Ospreys trailed, 6-4.
The Ospreys showed their resiliency by tying the score in the score in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Smith got things going with a single up the middle. Dahl followed with a single through the left side of the infield. The runners advanced on a wild pitch. Hannon drove in the runners with a two-out double down the left field line to tie the score at 6-6.
The Eagles regained the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. After retiring the first two batters of the innings, UNF hit a batter to give EMU a base runner. Back-to-back base hits scored the lead runner, giving Eastern Michigan a 7-6 advantage. An intentional walk loaded the bases and a hit batter gave the Eagles a two run edge. A Texas League singled dropped into left field to score two more runners, leaving the score 10-6.
The Ospreys battled in the top of the ninth inning. Eldredge collected a one-out single to center field to start the rally for UNF. Thompson was hit by a pitch to give UNF a pair of base runners. A passed ball advanced the runners and a balk scored Eldredge from third. A second hit batter of the inning gave the Ospreys runners on the corners with just one out. A sacrifice fly by Dahl closed the gap to 10-8. Justin Preckajlo extended the inning with a two-out, four-pitch pinch hit walk. A second passed ball of the inning moved Smith to third and Preckajlo to second. A four-pitch walk to Hannon loaded the bases and forced the Eagles to go to their bullpen. The move worked for EMU, as the new pitcher recorded a strikeout to end the game and secure a 10-8 victory for Eastern Michigan.
North Florida returns to action with a pair of midweek games. The Ospreys host Georgia Southern on Tuesday, March 2 at 6:30 p.m. before heading to Orlando, Fla. for a game against UCF on Wednesday, March 3 at 7 p.m.
