Box Score Boxscore
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team surrendered back-to-back five run innings to fall behind 10-2 to Central Florida and were not able to recover, dropping a 15-7 decision on Tuesday night at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.
Before the game, the Ospreys welcomed members of the Jacksonville Jaguars to the field. Derek Cox, Nate Hughes, Rashean Mathis and Mike Sims-Walker each took turns in the batting cage before the game, displaying their hitting talents.
Offensively, North Florida collected 13 hits on the night, including four doubles and two home runs. Sophomore Andrew Karmeris and senior T.J. Thompson each had three hits apiece. Karmeris finished the game 3-for-5 with a home run, a run score and two RBI, while Thompson was 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. In addition, senior Preston Hale had a pair of hits, including a home run.
On the mound, the Ospreys fell victim to the powerful bats of the Knights. UCF collected 19 hits in the game, including two doubles and three home runs. North Florida used five pitchers on the night and all five pitchers were charged with at least one run.
Starter Kyle Westwood took the loss for the Ospreys. After tossing three scoreless innings, the freshman ran into trouble in the fourth inning. Westwood was charged with four runs on four hits. He walked a batter, while striking out two.
The Ospreys were the first team to score, plating a run in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, T.J. Gavlik doubled down the left field line. He advanced to third on a groundout to first base. Karmeris delivered a two-out RBI single to left field to score Gavlik from third and give UNF a quick 1-0 lead.
UNF scored a run in the bottom of the second inning. Thompson led off the inning with a double to left field. Like the first inning, a groundout moved the runner to third base. The Ospreys received a bit of help from the Knights in scoring Thompson from third base. The UCF pitcher balked, scoring Thompson and giving UNF a 2-0 advantage.
UCF took the lead in the top of the fourth inning with five runs on six hits. The Knights led off the inning with an infield single. A double gave UCF a pair of runners in scoring position. A single through the left side of the infield plated the first run of the game for UCF. With runners on the corners, the Knights used a delayed steal to move the runner into scoring position. A walk loaded the bases and prompted a pitching change by the Ospreys. The first batter to Organ dropped a bloop single into shallow right field, scoring a runner. The Ospreys tried to throw the ball into second base, but the throw was off the mark allowing the lead runner to come around to score. A fielder's choice left the Knights with runners on the corners. A strikeout recorded the second out of the inning. The inning continued with a single to left field. An infield single loaded the bases and a walk scored the final run of the inning. A pop up to shallow right field that was caught by the second baseman Gavlik ended the inning, but saw the Ospreys on the wrong side of a 5-2 score.
The Knights extended their lead to 10-2 after a five-run fifth inning. The guests batted around for the second consecutive inning and used five hits, two hit by pitch and a wild pitch to increase their lead to eight runs.
UCF added a run in the top of the sixth inning on one swing, as the Knights used a solo home run to right field.
North Florida cut the deficit with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Justin Preckajlo worked the count full before drawing a leadoff walk. After two quick outs, Kyle Dahl singled up the middle, giving UNF runners on the corners. Sam Perry doubled to left field, scoring Preckajlo from third. With runners on second and third, Andrew Hannon followed with a two-RBI double to left center field.
The Knights used a home run in the seventh inning to increase their lead to 12-5. After a scoreless eighth inning, UCF scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning, including a two-run home run.
The Ospreys scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. With two outs, Hale and Karmeris delivered back-to-back home runs to provide the final 12-7 score. The back-to-back homers marked the fourth time this season UNF has had back-to-back home runs.
North Florida takes a little break for finals before returning to action on Saturday, May 1, with a doubleheader against Belmont in Nashville, Tenn.
