Box Score

Boxscore

 

STATESBORO, Ga. – The University of North Florida baseball team was edged 3-2 by Georgia Southern on Tuesday night at J.I. Clements Stadium in Statesboro, Ga.  The Ospreys trailed 2-0 before rallying in the top of the ninth to tie the game at 2-2, but a run in the bottom of the ninth cost UNF the game. 

 

The loss overshadowed a stellar pitching performance by senior John Atteo.  The hurler scattered seven hits in 7.1 innings of work.  He allowed just two runs, but only one earned run.  Atteo fanned five batters while issuing just two free passes.  He retired eight consecutive batters during from the third through the fifth. 

 

Senior Kris Linster took the hard luck loss on the night.  Linster allowed one run in 0.2 of an inning without allowing a hit.  He walked one batter before being relieved who came around to score. 

 

Offensively, the Ospreys were held to their lowest hit total of the season.  UNF tallied just three hits, all of which the Ospreys recorded in the ninth inning.  Seniors Kevin Martin and Justin Preckajlo, along with sophomore Andrew Karmeris had the hits for UNF.  Martin's hit was the biggest of the night for North Florida as his two-RBI double in the ninth inning tied the game. 

 

Georgia Southern was the first to score as the Eagles plated a run in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.  After two quick outs, the Eagles used a double to left center field and a single through the left side of the infield to plate the first run of the game. 

 

North Florida threatened in the top of the third inning.  With one out, Steve Hillan started things off for UNF with a walk and stole second base to move into scoring position.  Andrew Hannon reached base on a fielding error by the Eagles.  Michael Smith loaded the bases with a walk.  A line drive to first was the second out of the inning and a deep fly ball to right field saw the Ospreys threat come to an end. 

 

The Ospreys survived a scare unharmed.  The Eagles led off the inning with a single through the right side of the infield.  Back-to-back groundouts advanced the runner to third base.  With a runner on third, Atteo escaped the jam with a strikeout to end the inning. 

 

UNF was hitless through the first eight innings of the game but delivered some clutch hitting in the top of the ninth inning.  Karmeris recorded the first hit of the night for the Opspreys, a single to shallow center field.  Preckajlo followed with a single up the middle to give UNF a pair of base runners.  Martin pinch hit and came through with a two-RBI double to right field.  The Ospreys failed to plate anymore runners in the inning, but entered the bottom of the ninth tied at 2-2.

 

In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Eagles scored the game-winning run without the benefit of a hit.  The leadoff runner walked to start things off.  A balk by relief pitcher Casey Medlen moved the runner into scoring position.  A sacrifice bunt moved the runner two within 90 feet of home.  After an intentional walk to set up a double play opportunity, a ground ball to second base scored the runner on the fielder's choice, securing the Eagles' 3-2 victory. 

 

North Florida returns to action over the weekend as the Ospreys head to Johnson City, Tenn. for a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference series with East Tennessee State.  UNF and ETSU square off at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 2, at 7 p.m. before playing a doubleheader on Saturday, April 3, at 1 p.m.