University of North Florida
USF
Ospreys Drop Game at USF
3/23/2010 10:08:00 PM | Baseball
UNF fell to 11-11 on the year
TAMPA, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team opened the week with a 10-7 loss on the road to in-state rival South Florida at Red McEwen Field in Tampa Florida. The Ospreys scored seven runs on nine hits, but were unable to overcome an early deficit.
Offensively, North Florida collected nine hits in the game, marking the 20th time this season UNF has collected eight or more hits in a game.
Sophomore Andrew Karmeris led the charge for the Ospreys, finishing the game 3-for-4 with two runs scored. He had a double in the contest to go along with a pair of singles. Junior Michael Smith, the Atlantic Sun Player of the Week, collected a pair of hits in the game while driving in two runs.
Two other players also had two runs batted in the game. Freshman Ryan Roberson had a pinch-hit two-run home run in the ninth inning, while Corey Bass recorded a two-RBI single in the first inning.
Freshman Kyle Westwood took the loss for the Ospreys after earning the start. The Tarpon Springs, Fla., native worked 1.2 innings before being taken out of the game after getting hit by a ball. Westwood scattered four hits, allowing five runs. He walked just one batter with three strikeouts.
Redshirt freshman Clayton Schulz entered the game in relief. He officially registered 2.0 innings of work. He surrendered three runs before being relieved.
Freshman Kyle Finch entered the game in the fourth inning. He retired the first six batters he faced and nine of the first 10. He did not allow a run in 3.1 innings of work. Finch walked just one while striking out three.
Senior Jon Turner entered the game to pitch in the bottom of the eighth. After retiring the first two batters of the inning, he hit a pair of batters and allowed a pair of singles to score two runs.
The Ospreys were the first to score as UNF quickly jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Smith started things off for North Florida as he was struck by a pitch. Back-to-back singles by Preston Hale and Andrew Karmeris loaded the bases. With two outs, Steve Hillan drove in the first run of the game with a bases loaded walk. Bass followed with a two-RBI single to right center field.
The Bulls responded with four runs in the bottom of the first inning. After fanning the first batters of the inning, a single and back-to-back hit batters loaded the bases for USF. With two outs and the bases loaded, South Florida got a bases clearing double to tie the score. The very next batter singled to score the final run of the inning. Westwood struck out the final batter of the inning for his third K, but not before USF claimed a 4-3 lead.
USF led off the second inning with a walk and the runner moved to scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. An RBI single scored the runner from second and put the Ospreys behind by two, 5-3.
South Florida added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. A single started the inning and a sacrifice bunt moved the runner into scoring position. A double just inside the right field line scored the runner with just one out. The next batter doubled down the left field line to score another run. A single to right field extended the inning and gave the Bulls their third run of the inning to take an 8-3 to lead.
North Florida scored a run without the benefit of a hit in the top of the sixth inning to cut the deficit in half, 8-4. Hillan reached base on a fielding error and moved to second on a passed ball. A walk to Bass gave UNF a pair of base runners and a free pass to Sam Perry loaded the bases. With two outs, Hillan came around to score as Smith reached base courtesy of a catcher's interference call on the Bulls.
The Ospreys cut the lead to just three with a run in the eighth inning. With two outs, Andrew Hannon doubled down the right field line to give UNF a runner in scoring position. Smith followed with an RBI single to left center field to cut the margin to 8-5.
USF added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs, the Bulls used two hit batters and two base hits to score two runs and take a 10-5 advantage.
The two runs proved to be crucial for USF, as UNF mounted a comeback in the top of the ninth inning. After a base hit by Karmeris, Roberson entered the game to pinch hit. The freshman belted his first collegiate home run to left center field to cut the margin to 10-7, but the Ospreys would be unable to score any more.
North Florida continues the midweek road swing with a game on Wednesday with a game at Bethune-Cookman. First pitch in Daytona Beach, Fla. is scheduled for 6 p.m.
