Box Score Boxscore
TROY, Ala. – The University of North Florida baseball team fell to Troy, 9-6, on Tuesday night at Riddle-Pace Field in Troy, Ala. The Ospreys had a 5-1 lead, but two four-run innings proved to be too much for UNF to overcome.
Offensively, the Ospreys collected 11 hits on the night, including a pair of extra base hits. The double-digit hitting effort marked the 14th time this season that UNF has collected 10-plus hits in a game. For the season, the Ospreys have collected eight or more hits in 16 consecutive games.
Michael Smith led all Ospreys with three hits in the games, while Preston Hale, Andrew Hannon and Sam Perry each had a pair of hits apiece. Sophomore Andrew Karmeris hit his third home run of the season and Smith added a double in the game. Karrmeris led all UNF players with three RBI and Hannon and Smith each had a pair of runs scored.
On the mound, John Atteo took the loss in relief of starter Robbie Collier. Collier worked 5.0 innings, scattering five hits with a pair of strikeouts. He left the game with the ballgame tied after Troy scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Collier gave way to Atteo who recorded a strikeout, but surrendered four runs on four hits to take the loss.
North Florida used three other pitchers out of the bullpen who combined for 2.2 innings, allowing just a pair of hits and not runs. Casey Medlen worked 0.2 innings allowing a base hit, but ending the inning with a spectacular diving throw after a line drive ricocheted off of his leg. Medlen gave way to Greg Koehler who gave up a base hit and a walk, but did not allow a run in an inning of work. Kris Linster worked the final inning of the game recording a strikeout and a walk.
The Ospreys were the first team to score as they plated three runs in the top of the third inning. Ryan Roberson walked to start things off for UNF. He advanced to second as Hannon drew a free pass. Smith's RBI double plated Roberson and gave North Florida a 1-0 lead. With runners on second and third, Hale dropped a Texas League single into shallow left center field. The ball was deep enough to score both Hannon and Smith and give the Ospreys a 3-0 lead after two and a half innings of play.
The Trojans cut the UNF lead to just two with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Troy got a runner courtesy of an Osprey error. A single gave the Trojans a pair of base runners, but a strikeout put UNF one out away from getting out of the inning unscathed. A single moved the runners up a base, but a throwing error by North Florida allowed the lead runner to score. A strikeout ended the inning and the Troy threat, but the Osprey lead was cut to 3-1.
UNF extended its advantage to 5-1 with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning. Hannon led off the inning with a base hit, which extended his team-leading hitting streak to 17 games. Back-to-back groundouts moved Hannon to within 90 feet of home, but it would not matter as Karmeris delivered his third home run of the season. The two-run shot to left field increased the UNF advantage to four runs.
Troy pulled to within one run with one swing of the bat. A leadoff single combined with a walk gave the Trojans a pair of base runners for Miles Hoyle. The Trojans' left fielder hit a three-run home run to center field to close the gap to 5-4. Two batters later Troy tied the score with the second home run of the inning. Ryan Ditthardt hit a solo home run to left field to knot the score at five.
The Trojans took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. A leadoff double coupled with an RBI single gave the hosts a one-run advantage. After a strikeout, Troy used a single to place two runners on the bases. With one swing of the bat, the Trojans extended their lead to four runs, as Chase Whitley connected on a three-run home run to give Troy a 9-5 lead.
The Ospreys got a run back in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Smith and Hale delivered back-to-back singles, combined with a throwing error by Troy gave UNF a pair of runners in scoring position. An RBI ground out by Karmeris cut the deficit to 9-6.
Both teams would remain scoreless over the final two innings as the Trojans claimed the three-run victory.
North Florida and Troy will conclude the two-game series with a game on Wednesday, March 17, at Riddle-Pace Field. The game is set for 2 p.m. (ET).
