Boxscore

 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For the second day in a row, the University of North Florida baseball team dropped a close game to East Tennessee State, falling on Sunday afternoon, 9-7, at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.  For the second day in a row, the Ospreys held a one-run lead heading into the ninth inning, but a multi-run home run by ETSU lifted the visitors. 

 

Offensively, North Florida recorded 11 hits on the day, including a pair of doubles and two home runs.  Transfers Evan Stermer and Michael Wesner each belted their first home runs as Ospreys on the day.  Wesner finished the game 2-for-5 with a home run, a run scored and a team-best three runs batted in.  Senior Robbie Collier also had a pair of hits on the day, while true freshman Alex Hernandez finished the day with two hits including a double.  Andrew Karmeris led the team with two runs scored. 

 

On the mound, starting pitcher Kyle Westwood worked 5.2 innings, scattering seven hits.  The sophomore surrendered four runs, but left the game with the lead.  Westwood walked just two batters while striking out six. 

 

Collier took the hard luck loss for the Ospreys.  The southpaw gave up three hits in 2.1 innings of work.  He allowed four runs with only two runs.  Chandler Jagodzinski entered the game in relief of Collier, surrendering a run on a pair of hits.  Karmeris recorded the final three outs of the game.  The junior gave up one hit while striking out one. 

 

North Florida was the first team to scratch the scoreboard, plating five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Collier led off the inning with a single to right field.  He moved to third on a Tyler Marincov double to left center field.  Collier scored the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly by T.J. Gavlik.  With a runner on third, Hernandez increased the Ospreys lead with an RBI double to right center field.  With two outs in the inning, Karmeris drew his team-leading eighth intentional walk.  After a pitching change, Wesner hit his first home run in a UNF uniform – a three-run shot to right field to put North Florida in front 5-0. 

 

East Tennessee State responded with four runs in the top of the sixth inning.  The leadoff batter singled to third base and advanced to second on a fielding error by the Ospreys.  A one-out walk gave the Buccaneers a pair of base runners.  A single to left field plated the first run of the game for the visitors.  Another single by the Bucs loaded the bases with just one out.  ETSU scored another run on a fielder's choice.  An RBI single continued the inning.  The next batter singled to right field, scoring the lead runner.  On the play, Marincov threw out a runner trying to advance to third base, ending the inning. 

 

ETSU took the lead in the top of the seventh inning.  A walk and a UNF error moved a base runner into scoring position.  A second error in the inning allowed the lead runner to score and left the Bucs with a runner on first and no outs.  A groundout moved the runner into scoring position and a third error of the inning left ETSU with runners on the corners.  A sacrifice fly scored the second run of the inning and gave the visitors a 6-5 lead. 

 

The Ospreys regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.  Karmeris led off the inning with a single up the middle.  Stermer stepped to the plate with one out and belted his first home run of his UNF career, giving the Ospreys back the lead, 7-6. 

 

The Buccaneers took the lead for good in the top of the ninth inning.  A single and a walk left ETSU with a pair of base runners and no outs.  After a pitching change, ETSU's Dylan Pratt hit a three-run home run to center field to put East Tennessee in front 9-7. 

 

UNF was unable to generate any runs in the bottom of the ninth, dropping the two-run decision. 

 

North Florida hits the road for five consecutive games next week.  The Ospreys begin the road swing with a pair of midweek games against UNC Wilmington before ending the trip with a three-game conference series against USC Upstate.  The games with the UNCW are slated for Tuesday and Wednesday, March 15-16.  Each game against the Seahawks is slated for 6 p.m.