SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The University of North Florida baseball team improved to 9-9 on the season with a 14-5 victory over Atlantic Sun Conference opponent USC Upstate on Friday afternoon at Cleveland S. Harley Baseball Park in Spartanburg, S.C.
The Ospreys recorded 17 hits on the afternoon including a double, two triples and a pair of home runs. Tyler Marincov led North Florida with three hits and four runs scored on the day. He hit his second home run of the year in the game. Sam Perry had a pair of hits including his team-leading third home run of the year. Andrew Hannon and Alex Bacon each added a pair of hits. Alex Hernandez and Bacon each had a triple in the game, while Michael Smith added a double.
On the mound, starter Robbie Collier picked up his second victory of the season. The senior worked 5.2 innings, scattering five hits. He surrendered four runs, allowing six walks but striking out seven.
Casey Medlen tossed 2.1 innings in relief. The hurler gave up just one run on one hit, walked three batters and struck out two. Medlen gave way in the ninth inning to Chandler Jagodzinski. Jagodzinski worked a scoreless ninth inning, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out two.
North Florida was the first team to put a run on the scoreboard, scoring in the first inning. With one out, Corey Bass drew a free pass. Smith drove home Bass from first base with a double to right centerfield, giving the Ospreys a 1-0 lead after just a half an inning of play.
USC Upstate responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead by a run. A leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt gave the Spartans a runner in scoring position. A double down the right field line tied the game at 1-1. A groundout recorded the second out of the inning, but an RBI triple to right center field gave the hosts a 2-1 advantage after three innings of play.
The Ospreys tied the score in the top of the fourth inning. Marincov hit his second home run of the season, a solo shot to left field.
UNF took the lead for the second time with three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Bass led off the inning with a single to left center field. A sacrifice bunt by Smith moved Bass into scoring position. With two outs, Bacon singled through the left side of the infield to score Bass and give the Ospreys the lead again. Marincov continued the inning with a single up the middle, leaving UNF with runners on the corners. Hannon followed with a two-RBI single through the right side of the infield scoring Bacon and Marincov and giving the Ospreys a 5-2 advantage.
North Florida increased its lead to 6-2 in the top of the sixth inning. Perry hit his team-leading third home run of the season. The solo homer increased the Ospreys lead to 6-2.
USC Upstate cut the UNF advantage to just a pair with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. A leadoff single to left field started things off. A fielder's choice eliminated the lead runner. A strikeout recorded the second out of the inning, but back-to-back walks loaded the bases. USC Upstate used a single to score a pair of runs, but the Ospreys escaped any further damage with a strikeout to end the inning.
UNF increased its lead in the seventh inning with three runs. Marincov led off the inning with a single up the middle and Hannon followed with a walk. Kennedy attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but managed to reach base safely with a bunt single. The Spartans catcher threw the ball away trying to get Kennedy out at first, allowing Marincov to score on the play. With runners on the corners and two outs, Alex Hernandez advanced to second by stealing his second base of the season. Bass walked to load the bases. Smith reached base on a fielder's choice but on the play USC Upstate's shortstop threw the ball away allowing Hannon and Hernandez to score, pushing the UNF lead to 9-4.
The Spartans scored their final run of the game in the seventh inning. A double down the left field line started the inning and a groundout advanced the runner to third base. A sacrifice fly scored the runner from third to cut the Ospreys' advantage to 9-5, but the hosts would get no closer as UNF shut down USC Upstate in the final two innings.
The Ospreys scored five runs in the final two innings to put the game out of reach. North Florida used three hits to score three runs in the top of the eighth inning. In the ninth, UNF added a pair of insurance runs on two hits to put the game out of reach.
North Florida and USC Upstate will conclude the three-game Atlantic Sun Conference series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch for the double dip is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Cleveland S. Harley Baseball Park.
