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KENNESAW, Ga. – The University of North Florida baseball team played a back and forth game with Kennesaw State, but used a base loaded walk in the top of the ninth inning to come away with an 8-7 victory at Stillwell Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga.
The win improves the Ospreys to 22-17 overall and 10-5 in Atlantic Sun Conference play. The Owls drop to 16-22 overall and 7-8 in the A-Sun.
Offensively, North Florida recorded 14 hits on the day, including a double and a home run. Seniors David Eldredge and Justin Preckajlo each had three hits apiece, while fellow senior Ryan Puskar ended the day with two hits, including a home run. Eldredge led the team with three runs scored, while Puskar scored two runs and drove in two more. Senior T.J. Thompson had one hit, but drove in three runs, including the game-winning RBI.
On the mound, closer Casey Medlen picked up the victory. The junior hurler tossed 1.1 innings of relief. Medlen surrendered two hits without allowing a run and striking out two.
Starter John Atteo earned a no decision in the game. The senior scattered seven hits in 3.1 innings of work. Atteo surrendered five runs, but only three earned runs. He walked one and struck out four batters. The runs Atteo surrendered in the third inning snapped a streak of 13 consecutive scoreless innings by the senior.
Senior Kris Linster and freshman Clayton Schulz each pitched in relief. Linster worked 1.0 inning, walking one and striking out another. Schulz tossed 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball. He allowed three hits and one walk, while striking out one.
The Ospreys jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a run in the first inning. With one out, Andrew Hannon drew a base on balls to get things started for UNF. With two outs, Andrew Karmeris dropped a ball into left center field in between two outfielders and the shortstop for the first base hit of the game. With Hannon running on the play, he scored easily from first to give North Florida the one-run lead.
UNF added a run in the top of the third inning. Preston Hale doubled off of the right field wall to give the Ospreys a base runner. With two outs, Preckajlo scored Hale from second with an RBI single to left field to make the score 2-0.
KSU tied the score with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. After a fly ball recorded the first out, back-to-back singles gave Kennesaw State runners at first and second. A wild pitch advanced the runners into scoring position. A single scored the first run of the day for the Owls and left runners on the corners. KSU used a sacrifice fly to tie the score, and a fielder's choice ended the inning with the score tied 2-2.
North Florida regained the lead on one swing in the top of the fourth inning. Puskar hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot to left field to put the Ospreys in front 3-2.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Kennesaw State took its first lead of the game. The Owls scored four runs on four hits – all singles – and a UNF error to take a 6-3 lead after four complete innings of play.
The Owls added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. A hit batter, a stolen base and a throwing error gave KSU a runner on third base with one out. Kennesaw State used a double down the left field line to plate the runner and increase its advantage to 7-3.
The Ospreys rallied in the top of the sixth inning. Preckajlo led off the inning with a single through the left side of the infield. Preckajlo advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Eldredge followed with a single to left field, giving UNF runners on the corners. After a pitching change, Puskar extended the inning by reaching second on a two-base error by KSU. Preckajlo scored on the play. Gavlik kept the inning alive with a four-pitch walk. Thompson pinch hit and delivered a two-RBI single to right center field to score Puskar and Eldredge and cut the deficit to 7-6.
North Florida knotted the score at 7-7 with a run in the top of the seventh inning. Eldredge started things off for the Ospreys with a one-out single up the middle. Robbie Collier pinch hit for Puskar and singled to first base. Both runners advanced on a throwing error by the Owls' first baseman. Gavlik scored Eldredge from third with a sacrifice fly to left field.
UNF took the lead in the top of the ninth inning. Eldredge singled through the right side of the infield with one out to get things started for the Ospreys. Collier walked to give North Florida a pair of base runners. Gavlik singled to left field to load the bases. With the bases loaded, Thompson walked to plate the go-ahead run.
Leading by one in the bottom of the ninth inning, Medlen surrendered a leadoff single. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second base. Medlen struck the next batter out and induced a weak ground ball back to the pitcher's mound to end the game and secure the 8-7 victory.
The University of North Florida baseball team welcomes members of the Jacksonville Jaguars to Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium on Tuesday, April 20, for the baseball game against in-state rival UCF. Members of the Jaguars, including Rashean Mathis and Nate Hughes, will arrive at Harmon Stadium at 4:45 p.m. to take batting practice with the Ospreys. A couple of the Jaguars will throw out the ceremonial first pitch to start the game, which begins at 7 p.m.
