Boxscore
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida and the University of South Florida combined for 24 runs on 33 hits as the Ospreys came away with a 15-9 victory over the Bulls on Wednesday night at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.
“We fell behind in the first inning, which we have done all season,” head coach Dusty Rhodes commented after the game. “We came back and got some hits and scored some runs. We have a big series coming up against Stetson this weekend. Everyone is fighting to get into the conference tournament. We need to stick together and get it done.”
Offensively, the Ospreys scored 15 runs on 18 hits, including four doubles. Seven batters on the night recorded multiple hits. T.J. Gavlik, Andrew Hannon and T.J. Thompson each had three hits on the night. Corey Bass, Robbie Collier, Preston Hale and Andrew Karmeris all recorded a pair of hits on the night. Collier, Gavlik, Hale and Thompson each had a double in the game, while Hannon led all UNF players with four RBI. Collier, Gavlik, Karmeris and Thompson each drove in a pair of runs, while Karmeris and Thompson scored three runs apiece to lead all Ospreys.
On the mound, UNF used six pitchers, while USF used nine pitchers in the game. Freshman Josh Patton picked up his first collegiate victory, working 3.0 innings of scoreless baseball. The southpaw scattered four hits without allowing a walk and striking out a batter. Patton was the only pitcher on the night for the Ospreys not to allow a run.
USF was the first team to score, plating three runs in the top of the first inning. With one out, the Bulls received a base runner thanks to a single to shallow left field. The base runner stole second, but it would not matter as UNF hit the next batter. An infield single coupled with a throwing error allowed the first run to score for USF. A walk loaded the bases with one out and a second error of the inning allowed a run to score. The Bulls scored the final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to take a 3-0 lead after a half an inning.
North Florida scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning. Andrew Karmeris led off the inning with a single up the middle. He moved to second on a ground out to the pitcher and advanced to third base thanks to a deep fly ball to center field. Andrew Hannon dropped a bloop single into shallow center field, scoring Karmeris from third and cutting the deficit to 3-1.
The Ospreys took the lead with five runs in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, Justin Preckajlo walked to start things off. Hale followed with a single to third base. With two runners on base, Karmeris delivered an RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-2. David Eldredge's RBI single to center field knotted the game at three. Thompson put the Ospreys ahead with an RBI single to center field. With two runners on base and two outs, Hannon singled through the left side of the infield, driving in a pair of runs and giving UNF a 6-3 advantage.
North Florida added five more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Ospreys used four hits, including three doubles to take an 11-3 lead.
Both teams scored a run in the sixth inning and USF cut the North Florida lead to 12-6 with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning. The Ospreys responded with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. For the third time in the game, UNF batted around, sending nine batters to the plate.
The Bulls scored a run in the top of the eighth and two more in the top of the ninth, but would get no closer as the Ospreys secured the 15-9 victory.
North Florida finishes out the seven game homestand with three games over the weekend against in-state and conference rival Stetson. The three game series starts with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 15. Sunday's game against the Hatters will be Senior Day.
