Baseball Drops Game to Liberty

Sunday, February 27

Jacksonville, Fla.

1 p.m.

University of North Florida

4-3

Liberty

3-5

Liberty

North Florida

Photo by: Michelle Bronner

2/27/2011 5:21:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: UNF Athletics

Boxscore

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team concluded the four-game series with Liberty, dropping a 9-1 decision to the Flames on Sunday afternoon at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.

Offensively, the Ospreys managed just six hits on the day with just one extra base hit. Sophomore Corey Bass and junior Evan Stermer each recorded a pair of hits on the day with Stermer registering a double. Senior Michael Smith and freshman Tyler Marincov each had hits in the game. Senior Andrew Hannon drove in a run, while junior T.J. Gavlik scored a run.

On the mound, North Florida used four pitchers on the day. Starter Robbie Collier was tagged with the loss on the day. The senior worked 4.1 innings, scattering eight hits. Collier surrendered five runs – four earned runs – while walking one and striking out four. Pitchers Joe Iorio, Clayton Schulz and Brandan Keen each made their 2011 pitching debut. The trio combined for four strikeouts in the final 4.2 innings of play.

Neither team was able to plate a run until Liberty broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning. The Flames started the inning with back-to-back singles, leaving Liberty with runners on the corners. The Flames attempted to steal third and an errant throw on the attempt to catch the runner allowed the first run of the game to score, leaving Liberty with a runner on third. A single to center field gave the Flames a 2-0 advantage.

The Flames added three more runs in the top of the fifth inning. A double and a sacrifice bunt left Liberty with a runner on third base. An RBI single up the middle scored the first run of the inning. A second double of the inning scored a second run. With two on and two outs, a single scored the final run of the inning, putting the Ospreys on the wrong side of a 5-0 score.

North Florida tried to get something going in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Gavlik was hit by a pitch and advanced to second courtesy of a Bass single. Alex Hernandez walked to load the bases for the Ospreys. An RBI groundout by Hannon scored Gavlik from third. Andrew Karmeris was intentionally walked, but a fielder's choice ended the inning and the Osprey threat.

The Flames added a pair of runs in the sixth inning to extend their lead. The inning was punctuated by a two-run home run by Liberty's Michael Robertson. The final margin of victory was determined by two unearned runs in the top of the eighth. The Ospreys were unable to overcome the 9-1 deficit, splitting the series with Liberty, 2-2.

North Florida will be back in action on Wednesday, March 2, as the Ospreys take on Georgia Southern at 7:00 p.m. at Harmon Stadium.