Long Ball Helps Ospreys Past Knights

Wednesday, March 3

Orlando, Fla.

6:30 p.m.

University of North Florida

3-5

UCF

7-2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
North Florida	4	0	1	0	0	0	1	6	1	13	17	1
UCF	5	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	6	5	0

3/3/2010 9:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: UNF Athletics

Boxscore

ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team did not have a home run through the first seven games of the season but belted three home runs in a 13-6 victory over UCF on Wednesday night at Jay Bergman Field in Orlando, Fla.

Senior Justin Preckajlo recorded his first multi-home run game of his career as he pounded two pitches out of the yard. He finished the game 3-for-4 with two home runs, two runs scored and five runs batted in.

Senior Preston Hale crushed a ball over the scoreboard as part of a six-run eighth inning for the Ospreys. The three-run homer was Hale's first of the season and 17th at UNF. He finished the game 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and four RBI.

For the game, North Florida scored 13 runs on 17 hits, including six extra base hits.

After a rough first inning, the Ospreys pitching staff held the Knights to one run over the next eight innings. UNF allowed five runs before recording an out, but then held UCF scoreless over the next six innings.

The Ospreys took an early lead scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. Andrew Hannon led off the game with a single up the middle. Smith followed with a single through the right side of the infield to give UNF runners on the corners. After a strikeout, Andrew Karmeris delivered an RBI single. With two outs and runners on the corners, Preckajlo hit the first home run of the season for North Florida. His three-run shot over the right field fence gave UNF an early 4-0 lead.

The Knights responded in the bottom of the first inning. After back-to-back walks to start the game, UCF's Shane Brown hit a three-run homer to right field to cut the Osprey advantage to 4-3. A single to right field continued the inning and a two-run home run by Jonathan Griffin put the hosts ahead 5-4. Michael Kelly entered the game in relief and slammed the door shut on the Knights with three consecutive strikeouts.

UNF tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the third inning. Hale started things off with a single and moved to second on a Karmeris base hit. A double play moved Hale to third base and the senior came around to score on a Preckajlo RBI single.

The Ospreys took the lead in the top of the seventh inning. Hannon led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a ground out. A sacrifice fly by Hale scored Hannon from third and gave UNF a 6-5 lead.

The Knights tied the score in the bottom of the seventh inning without the benefit of a hit. North Florida walked the first batter of the inning, but retired the next two batters on strikes. A hit batter and a walk loaded the bases. With a full count, the Ospreys could not find the strike zone and walked the tying run. With the bases still loaded, a fly ball to left field ended the inning with the score tied at six.

Preckajlo broke the tie in the top of the eighth inning. The senior right fielder belted his second home run of the night to break the tie. The solo shot was to straight away centerfield and gave the Ospreys a 7-6 edge.

Following Preckajlo's home run, the Ospreys drew three consecutive walks to load the bases to extend the inning. Hannon delivered an RBI fielder's choice to score the lead runner and give UNF an 8-6 advantage. Smith followed with an RBI single to left field to increase the lead to three. After a pitching change, Hale crushed the first pitch he saw over the right center field fence to give North Florida a 12-6 lead.

The Ospreys added a run in the final inning to take the 13-6 victory.

North Florida returns to action on Friday, March 5, as the Ospreys begin play in the 2010 Kennel Club Classic with a game against James Madison. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.