Baseball Splits with USC Upstate; Claims Series

Saturday, March 19

Spartanburg, S.C.

1 p.m.

University of North Florida

9-19, 2-6

USC Upstate

7-12, 2-5

North Florida

USC Upstate

3/19/2011 6:58:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: UNF Athletics

Boxscore - Game 1
Boxscore - Game 2

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The University of North Florida baseball team split a doubleheader on the road in Atlantic Sun Conference play to claim a 2-1 series victory over USC Upstate on Saturday afternoon at Cleveland S. Harley Baseball Park in Spartanburg, S.C. The Ospreys (10-10, 3-6 A-Sun) dropped a 2-0 decision to the Spartans (7-13, 2-5 A-Sun) before holding on for a 12-11 victory in the nightcap.

In game one, North Florida could get nothing going offensively, falling 2-0. The shutout snapped a streak of 111 consecutive games for North Florida without being shutout. The last shutout against the Ospreys happened at FIU on March 18, 2009, as UNF was shutout 3-0 in Miami.

The Ospreys recorded seven hits in game one, but could not get a timely hit when needed. UNF left nine runners on base, including six runners in scoring position.

On the mound in game one, Kyle Westood took the hard luck loss for North Florida. The sophomore worked 7.2 innings, scattering eight hits with just one extra base hit. He surrendered just a pair of runs, striking out six and walking just one. Clayton Schulz recorded the final out of the game for UNF, working 0.1 innings of scoreless ball.

In game two, the Ospreys erupted for 18 hits, including a pair of home runs and three doubles. Three batters for North Florida finished the second game with three hits, while four other batters added a pair of hits apiece. Corey Bass, Andrew Karmeris and Shane Kennedy each chipped in three hits a piece in the second game with Karmeris belting a home run. Bass, Andrew Hannon and Alex Hernandez each had doubles in the game, while Sam Perry hit his team-leading fourth home run of the season.

On the mound, Casey Medlen picked up his second victory of the year, working 4.2 innings in relief of starter Paul Karmeris in game two. The fireballer scattered eight hits, allowing three runs with just a pair of earned runs. He did not issue a walk and struck out two.

Tyler Moore entered the game in relief of Medlen. Moore tossed 2.0 innings allowing two unearned runs on a pair of hits. Clayton Schulz threw an inning allowing a pair of runs on one hit and a pair of walks with a strikeout to his credit.

Chandler Jagodzinski picked up his first save of the season. The transfer recorded the final two outs, securing the victory with a strikeout to end the game.

GAME 1 RECAP

USC Upstate was the first team to score a run, plating a runner in the bottom of the first inning. The lead off batter singled to the shortstop to get things going for the Spartans. The runner advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and moved to third on a wild pitch. USC Upstate took the lead with an RBI single through the right side of the infield to take an early 1-0 lead after one inning of play.

North Florida threatened in the top of the third inning, but was unable to generate any runs. The Ospreys loaded the bases thanks to back-to-back base hits by T.J. Gavlik and Alex Hernandez, a fielder's choice and a walk to Andrew Karmeris. The Spartans used a strikeout to get out of the inning, leaving the score at 1-0.

The Spartans threatened in the bottom of the first inning. After a strikeout, the home team used a double to left field to put a runner into scoring position. Westwood used a strikeout record the second out of the inning. With a runner on second and two outs, a ground ball to shortstop ended the inning and the Spartans threat.

The Ospreys survived a scare in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Spartans led off the inning with a single up the middle and the base runner moved to second thanks to a sacrifice bunt. A single left the home team with runners on the corners and just one out. Westwood was able to induce a ground ball to third base. Andrew Karmeris fielded the ball and tossed it to Gavlik covering second base. Gavlik completed the double play with a throw on the money to Michael Wesner at first base to end the inning and leave the runner stranded at third.

USC Upstate scored an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning. A leadoff single started things off for the Spartans. The base runner moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt and advanced to third on a wild pitch. A ground out recorded the second out of the inning, but a wild pitch on a walk allowed the runner to score from third and give USC Upstate a 2-0 lead after eight innings of play.

North Florida was unable to get anything going in the final inning of play, dropping the 2-0 decision in the first game.

GAME 2 RECAP

North Florida was the first team to scratch the scoreboard, plating five runs in the top of the first inning. With one out, Corey Bass started things off with a base hit to left field. Smith followed with a single through the left side of the infield. Karmeris hit a line drive off of the USC Upstate pitcher for a base hit to load the bases. The Ospreys scored the first run of the game as Alex Bacon drove in a run as he was struck by a pitch with the bases loaded. Marincov followed with an RBI ground out to push the North Florida lead to 2-0. A fielding error by the Spartans allowed Andrew Hannon to reach base safely. On the play, Bacon and Andrew Karmeris were able to score. After a pitching change, Hannon stole second base to move into scoring position. Shane Kennedy continued the inning with an RBI single up the middle to give UNF a 5-0 advantage after a half an inning of play.

The Ospreys' five-run advantage was cut to just one run as the Spartans responded with four runs in the bottom of the first inning. USC Upstate led off the inning with a walk and the runner moved to second on a single. The two base runners advanced a base on a sacrifice bunt. The next batter loaded the bases as he was hit by a pitch. A single drove in the first run of the game for the Spartans. Another single in the inning scored the second run for USC Upstate. The hosts scored the third run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to right field. The next batter walked to load the bases once again for the Spartans and a walk plated the fourth run of the inning. The Ospreys went to the bullpen and Medlen induced a ground ball to end the inning with UNF up 5-4 after one inning.

In the top of the third inning, UNF added a pair of runs to increase its lead to 7-4. With two outs, Hannon and Kennedy each drew walks to give the Ospreys a pair of base runners. Sam Perry was hit by a pitch to load the bases for North Florida. Alex Hernandez followed with a two-RBI single to right center field, scoring Hannon and Kennedy.

USC Upstate cut into North Florida's lead with a run in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, an error allowed a base runner. Following a strikeout, back-to-back singles scored the lead runner and trimmed the Ospreys' advantage to 7-5.

North Florida added three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Smith led off the inning with a single and came around to score as Andrew Karmeris belted his third home run of the season. The two-run shot pushed the UNF lead to 9-5. With two outs and no one on base, Hannon continued the inning with a double to right center field. Kennedy singled up the middle to score Hannon from second and give UNF a 10-5 lead.

The Spartans used a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to close the gap to just three. The innings started with a single to left field. A double down the left field line scored the lead runner. A second double of the inning cut the margin to 10-7. The Ospreys went to the bullpen and brought in Moore. The freshman induced a double play to end the inning and stop the USC Upstate rally.

USC Upstate cut the UNF lead to just one with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, the first base runner of the inning reached base thanks to an error by the Ospreys. The runner moved to second on a wild pitch by UNF. A triple to right center field scored the lead runner and left the hosts a runner just 90 feet from home. A ground out scored the ninth run of the game for the Spartans. The Ospreys escaped the inning with a ground out, but saw their lead cut to 10-9 after seven complete innings.

UNF increased its lead with two runs in the top of the ninth. A one-out bunt single by Kennedy started the inning for the Ospreys. A failed pick off attempt allowed Kennedy to advance all the way to third base. Perry drove home the run with a two-run homer to left field, pushing the Ospreys' advantage to 12-9.

The two runs for North Florida proved to be important as USC Upstate scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth in an attempt to claim the game. The Spartans started the inning with a leadoff walk, but a strikeout recorded the first out of the inning. A second walk gave the hosts a pair of runners. The next batter doubled down the left field line to score the lead runner and cut the UNF advantage to just two. The Ospreys brought Jagodzinski in from the bullpen. An RBI groundout cut the UNF lead to just one, but a strikeout by Jagodzinski ended the game and thwarted the USC Upstate comeback attempt.

North Florida returns to action with a pair of midweek games against the FIU Panthers. The first game is slated for Tuesday, March 22 at 7:00 p.m. The second game of the series is slated for 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday.