Box Score Boxscore
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team dropped a 9-2 decision to No. 7 Florida State on Wednesday night at Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium.
The game was the final of three games scheduled between the two teams this season. Florida State edged North Florida 2-1 in the series this season.
In between the second and third innings of the game, Florida State head coach Mike Martin presented North Florida head coach Dusty Rhodes a plaque in recognition for his stellar career at the helm of the UNF baseball team. The game marked the final regular season game for Rhodes at Dick Howser Stadium.
Offensively, the Ospreys collected just four hits on the night. T.J. Gavlik led the team with two base hits and a run scored. Preston Hale had just one hit, but his double in the eighth inning scored two runners. David Eldredge also had a hit and Michael Smith scored a run.
Starting pitcher Kyle Westwood took the loss for the Ospreys. The freshman surrendered three runs on two hits in 1.1 innings of work. He was hurt by five walks compared to one strikeout.
Clayton Schulz entered the game in relief. The freshman hurler worked 5.1 innings, scattering 10 hits. Schulz surrendered six runs with four earned runs. He walked just one batter and fanned three.
Greg Koehler pitched the final 1.1 innings, holding Florida State scoreless. The senior scattered two hits, striking out three batters.
Florida State was the first team to score, plating three runs in the bottom of the second. The runs snapped a streak of seven consecutive scoreless innings of work by the UNF pitching staff against FSU. The Seminoles batted around, but only recorded a pair of hits in the inning. UNF was hurt by four walks in the inning. A bases loaded single to left center field did the majority of the damage, scoring two runs. The Noles scored the final run of the inning on a bases loaded walk.
FSU added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. The inning started with a UNF error and a base hit gave the host school a pair of base runners. The Seminoles advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt and a single scored two runners and extended the FSU lead to 5-0.
The Seminoles scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth. A single coupled with a throwing error on a failed pick off attempt gave FSU a runner in scoring position. A ground out and an RBI single scored the run and put the Ospreys behind 6-0 after four innings of play.
Florida State added some insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Seminoles scored three runs on four hits, punctuated by a two run home run.
UNF plated a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning to cut the deficit to 9-2. With two outs, Michael Smith was hit by a pitch and T.J. Gavlik singled to left field. Both runners advanced on a fielding error by the Seminole left fielder. With runners on second and third and two outs, Preston Hale delivered a two-RBI double to center field to put the Ospreys on the scoreboard.
The Ospreys were unable to score in the final inning and fell by the final score of 9-2.
North Florida returns to action this weekend as the Ospreys play host to USC Upstate in a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference matchup. UNF and USC Upstate take the field on Saturday, April 10, at 1 p.m. for a doubleheader at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium. The two teams conclude the series with a single game Sunday, April 11, at 1 p.m.
