Boxscore

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team opened a two-game non-conference series with FIU with a 6-3 victory on Tuesday night at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium. 

Offensively, the Ospreys (11-10) recorded 10 hits on the night.  Three different UNF players had two hits apiece on the night.  Alex Bacon, Alex Hernandez and Sam Perry each had two hits each on the night.  Hernandez added a double on the night, while Shane Kennedy belted a triple.  The offense was balanced as six different North Florida players scored a run in the game, while five different Ospreys drove in runs. 

North Florida used five pitchers on the night.  Starter Tommy Organ earned his second victory of the season.  In a controlled start, the sophomore worked 3.0 innings without allowing a hit and striking out three batters. 

Marshal Rosenberger pitched the next two innings, allowing three runs on two hits, surrendering three walks and striking out one.  Tyler Moore tossed 2.0 innings with a pair of strikeouts.  Chandler Jagodzinski recorded a pair of strikeouts in his 1.0 inning of relief. 

Closer Andrew Karmeris earned his third save of the season.  Karmeris surrendered a pair of hits, but did not allow a runner to score in the final inning of work. 

North Florida was the first team to score, plating two runs in the bottom of the first inning.  Hernandez doubled down the left field line to start things off for the Ospreys.  Corey Bass followed with a walk to give UNF a pair of base runners.  Michael Smith was able to move the runners 90 feet closer to home with a sacrifice bunt.  Hernandez scored the first run of the game on wild pitch and Bass came around to score courtesy of a sacrifice fly by Karmeris. 

Leading 2-0, the Ospreys added a run in the bottom of the second inning.  With one out, Tyler Marincov singled through the left side of the infield to start things off.  Perry was hit by a pitch.  A failed pick off attempted moved the runners up a base.  Hernandez followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Marincov from third and increase the UNF lead to 3-0. 

In the third inning, North Florida added a pair of insurance runs.  With two outs, Bacon drew a walk and moved into scoring position by stealing second base.  Kennedy tripled to center field to score Bacon from second base.  After a pitching change, Andrew Hannon singled up the middle to plate Kennedy and give the Ospreys a 5-0 lead. 

FIU cut the deficit in the top of the sixth inning with one swing of the bat.  The Panthers' Jose Behar hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning to trim the UNF lead to 5-3. 

North Florida added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning.  With two outs, Perry singled to right field.  Hernandez followed with a single through the right side of the infield, leaving the Ospreys with runners on the corners.  Bass delivered an RBI single to left field to score Perry and give UNF a 6-3 edge.  The UNF pitching staff did not allow any FIU base runners to score preserving the three-run victory. 

North Florida and FIU will conclude the two-game non-conference series with a single game on Wednesday afternoon beginning at 4:00 p.m. at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.