UNF Baseball Drops Pair to Belmont

Monday, May 3

Nashville, Tenn.

6 p.m.

University of North Florida

22-20, 10-8

Belmont

22-24, 9-11

North Florida

Belmont

5/3/2010 9:07:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: UNF Athletics

Boxscore - Game 1
Boxscore - Game 2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The University of North Florida baseball team waited out two days of rain delays before taking the field against Belmont. When the two teams took the field, the Bruins claimed a pair of victories over the Ospreys, winning game one, 4-1, and game two, 15-9.

Offensively, North Florida collected 19 hits on the day, with 14 hits coming in game two.

There were just two extra base hits combined in the first game with each team hitting a home run in the contest. Senior Justin Preckajlo hit the Ospreys' home run in game one, a solo shot to left field. The home run was his team-leading 10th of the season and the 17th of his UNF career.

In game two, the Ospreys bats shook off the rust of nearly two weeks off, piecing together nine runs on 14 hits. UNF hit six extra base hits, including a pair of home runs and four doubles in the second game. Preston Hale and T.J. Thompson each had a home run, while Andrew Hannon had two doubles. Kevin Martin and Sam Perry each had a double in the game.

Preckajlo scored a pair of runs in game two, while Kyle Dahl, Hannon and Thompson each drove in a pair of runs each.

The Ospreys failed to get anything going on the mound as UNF used eight pitchers on the day. North Florida used three pitchers in game one and five pitchers in the second game. Only three pitchers on the day did not allow a run.

The UNF pitching staff recorded 17 strikeouts on the day. The Ospreys fanned seven batters as a staff in game one and retired 10 batters on strikes in game two.

Starter George Lott took the loss in game one. Lott scattered eight hits over 6.2 innings. He was charged with four runs in the game. Lott walked three batters, while striking out five.

Relievers Kris Linster and Clayton Schulz combined for 1.1 scoreless innings in game one. The duo surrendered just one hit with Linster fanning two batters.

Michael Kelly took the loss in game two. The starter surrendered seven runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out four. The next four pitchers used by UNF combined for 4.0 innings, surrendering eight runs.

Tommy Organ worked the last 0.2 innings. The freshman surrendered no runs on one hit, while striking out one.

GAME 1 RECAP

In the first inning, the Ospreys did not score a run, but had one hit courtesy of Hale. The hit was significant as it moved Hale into sole possession of first place in North Florida history in career hits.

The Bruins were the first team to score a run, plating a runner in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, a single started things off for the designated home team. The runner stole second base to move into scoring position. A second base hit scored the first run of the game. After a walk, the Ospreys induced a double play to end the inning, but trailed 1-0 after an inning.

North Florida threatened in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, UNF used back-to-back singles by Preckajlo and David Eldredge to place runners on the corners. Belmont escaped the threat as a ground ball ended the inning.

Belmont increased its lead to 4-0 with three runs in the fifth inning. The Bruins placed runners on first and second with a couple of singles, but a three-run home run to left field scored the runners and saw the Ospreys trailing by four after five innings.

UNF cut the deficit to just three with one swing of the bat. Preckajlo led off the seventh inning with his team-leading 10th home run of the season to cut the Bruins lead to 4-1.

Neither team was able to generate any offense in the final innings as Belmont claimed game one, 4-1.

GAME 2 RECAP

Like game one, Belmont was the first team to score, plating two runs in the bottom of the first inning. A single and a walk gave the Bruins a pair of runners on base. The runners advanced on a double steal. With two runners on and two outs, Belmont used a single to left field to score the first two runs of the game and take a 2-0 lead after one inning.

The Bruins added three more runs in the bottom of the third inning. With two runners on and two outs, Belmont moved both runners into scoring position with a double steal. The next batter doubled to plate two runs. Belmont's next batter singled to right field to score the third run of the inning and give the designated home team a 5-0 advantage after three innings of play.

The Ospreys scored their first run of the ballgame with a solo home run by Hale in the top of the fourth inning. The home run was Hale's eighth of the season.

Belmont added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Bruins loaded the bases and used a two-RBI single to extend their lead to 7-1.

UNF chipped away at Belmont's lead with two runs in the top of the fifth. Hannon led off the inning with a double to left field. Kyle Dahl followed with an RBI single down the right field line. Perry followed with a double down the left field line, giving the Ospreys runners on second and third. Michael Smith grounded out to shortstop, scoring Dahl from third. UNF was unable to score any more runs, but cut the deficit to 7-3.

Belmont got the two runs back in the bottom of the fifth inning. A two-out single scored two runners and pushed the Bruins lead to 9-3.

North Florida responded with two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Andrew Karmeris led off the inning with a single through the left side. Preckajlo reached on an error by the Belmont shortstop. The runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Eldredge. Hannon followed with a double off of the left field wall to score Karmeris and Preckajlo and trim the margin to 9-5.

The Bruins extended their lead back to seven runs with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Belmont loaded the bases without the benefit of a hit. A hit batter and two walks loaded the bases. A single scored two runs and a second hit in the inning scored the final run of the inning, extending the BU lead to 12-5.

BU added a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, using a sacrifice fly to increase its lead to 13-5 after seven innings of play.

UNF added a run in the top of the eighth inning. Preckajlo walked and Eldredge followed with a single through the right side. A fielder's choice advanced Preckajlo to third base. Dahl drove home Preckajlo with a sacrifice fly to center field.

The Bruins tacked on three runs on four hits in the bottom of the eighth inning to extend their lead to 15-6. The inning was punctuated by a two-RBI double.

The Ospreys rallied in the top of the ninth, but could not over come the nine-run deficit. With one out, Steve Hillan delivered a pinch hit single down the left field line. Martin followed with an RBI double down the right field line. Corey Bass came through with a pinch hit single up the middle, but Martin was called out at home trying to score from second for the second out of the inning. Thompson hit his ninth home run of the season to pull the Ospreys to within six at 15-9, but UNF could get no closer.

North Florida continues its road trip with a pair of midweek games against UNC Greensboro on Tuesday, May 4 and Wednesday, May 5. The first game of the two-game series is slated for 6 p.m., while Wednesday's game is scheduled for 2 p.m.