Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Boxscore - Game 1
Boxscore - Game 2
KENNESAW, Ga. – The University of North Florida baseball team lost its first Atlantic Sun Conference series of the year, as the Ospreys fell in both games of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Stillwell Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga. UNF dropped a 3-2 decision in game one, before falling 12-8 in game two.
The Ospreys collected just four hits in the first game, but out-hit the Owls, 16-to-14, in game two. UNF made a valiant comeback attempt in game two. Trailing 11-2, North Florida scored six runs in the final two innings. When the game ended, the Ospreys had the bases loaded and the tying run at the plate.
Five North Florida batters collected multiple hits on the day, including T.J. Gavlik, Preston Hale, Andrew Hannon and Justin Precakajlo who each had three hits apiece. Two of Preckajlo's three hits were for extra bases, as the senior belted his team-leading ninth home run of the season, while adding a double. Sophomore Andrew Karmeris had a pair of hits on the day, including a home run, while Hannon added a double.
In game one, the Ospreys collected just four hits, led by Preston Hale who recorded a pair of hits. Michael Smith and T.J. Gavlik each scored a run while David Eldredge and Justin Preckajlo each had an RBI in the game.
Starting pitcher George Lott took the hard luck loss in the first game. The junior worked 7.0 innings, scattering eight hits. Lott surrendered three runs. He walked just two batters and fanned seven. Lott was relieved by Casey Medlen. The junior worked a scoreless inning of work, giving up just one hit.
The Ospreys used three pitchers in game two. Game two's starter Michael Kelly was saddled with the loss. The senior scattered seven hits in 4.2 innings of work. Kelly surrendered six runs; however, only one run was earned. He walked three batters, while striking out three others. Robbie Collier fanned three batters in two innings, while Trey Ferrano worked 1.1 innings of relief surrendering a pair of hits.
Game 1 Recap
The Ospreys were the first team to score, plating a run in the first inning without the benefit of a hit. Michael Smith led off the game with a walk. He moved to second on a passed ball by the KSU catcher. Gavlik moved Smith to third with a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt. Two walks by the Owls loaded the bases. With two outs and the bases loaded, Kennesaw State helped out the Ospreys with an RBI walk to David Eldredge.
The Owls tied the score in the bottom of the second inning. A lead off single coupled with a balk moved the hosts into scoring position. With two outs, Kennesaw State hit a single through the right side of the infield that scored the runner. On the play, the runner at first was caught off the bag for the final out of the inning, leaving the score tied at 1-1.
Kennesaw State took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. A leadoff double to left center field started off the inning for KSU. After a strikeout, the Owls received an RBI single to right center field to take a 2-1 lead. The Ospreys escaped any more runs with a caught stealing and a ground out.
KSU added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. The first batter of the inning hit a solo home run to right field to increase the Owls lead to 3-1.
North Florida scored a run in the top of the eighth inning to cut the deficit to one. Gavlik reached second base on a two-base error by the Owls. Hale singled to right field to advance Gavlik to third base. Justin Preckajlo followed with an RBI fielder's choice to score Gavlik and cut the KSU lead to 3-2.
Neither team was able to score in the final inning with the hosts taking game one by a final of 3-2.
Game 2 Recap
Kennesaw State started off the second game with a run in the bottom of the first. With one out, KSU got a runner courtesy of a UNF fielding error. Back-to-back singles plated the runner, but Kelly fanned the next two batters to end the inning and the Owls' threat.
North Florida responded with a run in the top of the second. With one out, Preckajlo doubled off of the left field wall. Eldredge continued the inning as he reached on an error. Gavlik singled to right center field, scoring Preckajlo from second and knotting the score at 1-1.
The game did not remain tied for long as the Owls scored a run in the bottom of the second inning. A one out single and a sacrifice bunt gave the Owls a runner in scoring position. An infield single put runners on the corners. The Ospreys got the runner on first trapped in a run down, but before applying the tag, the runner on third scored safely.
The Ospreys responded in the top of the third inning. With one out, Smith was hit by a pitch to start things off for UNF. Hale delivered a two-out single to right field to give North Florida runners on first and second. Karmeris followed with a single to left field that scored Smith from second and tied the score at 2-2.
Kennesaw State took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning with four runs on two hits and three UNF errors. With one out, KSU got a base runner thanks to a fielding error by the Ospreys. With two outs, the runner advanced on a wild pitch. A second error of the inning gave the Owls runners on the corners. A stolen base gave KSU a pair of runners in scoring position. The lead runner came around to score on a wild pitch. A walk and a single scored the second run of the inning. A two RBI single scored the final two runs of the inning, leaving the Ospreys behind 6-2.
The Owls added a run in the sixth inning to extend their lead to 7-2. A fielder's choice and a walk gave KSU a pair of base runners and a single to left field scored the lead runner. Kennesaw State added four more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring on five hits to increase their lead to 11-2.
The Ospreys cut into the lead with four runs in the top of the eighth inning. UNF used five hits, including back-to-back solo home runs by Karmeris and Preckajlo to trim the deficit to 11-6. Karmeris and Precakajlo led off the inning with the back-to-back home runs and Steve Hillan extended the inning with a one-out single to left center field. Ryan Puskar doubled to left center field to give UNF runners at second and third. Smith followed with a two out single to right field that scored Hillan and Puskar.
KSU extended its lead back to six with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Owls manufactured a run on a hit batter, a ground out and an RBI single.
In the final inning, the Ospreys scored two runs to cut the deficit to 12-8, loaded the bases and brought the tying run to the plate. With one out, Hale and Karmeris each drew a free pass. Preckajlo singled through the left side of the infield, scoring Hale from second base. Corey Bass singled to right center field, loading the bases. With two outs, Pusksar drew a four-pitch walk to plate another run. With the tying run at the plate and two outs, the Owls got a strikeout to end the game and the Ospreys threat.
North Florida and Kennesaw State will conclude the three-game series with a single game on Sunday, April 18, beginning at 1 p.m. at Stillwell Stadium.
