University of North Florida
13-11, 5-6
Belmont
12-12, 3-5
Baseball Slams Belmont, 22-2; Claims Series
3/26/2011 6:03:00 PM | Baseball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Leading 4-2, the University of North Florida baseball team used a six-run fourth inning highlighted by a grand slam by Kyle Dahl to jump out to big lead that the Ospreys would not relinquish, defeating Belmont, 22-2, on Saturday afternoon at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.
The Ospreys (13-11, 5-6 Atlantic Sun) pounded out 18 hits, including 11 extra base hits to cruise to a 20-point victory over the Bruins (12-12, 3-5 A-Sun). As a team, UNF recorded five home runs, including a grand slam, a pair of triples and four doubles on the day. Only five of the UNF players who played in the game did not have a hit, but every North Florida player reached base with 13 of the 14 position players who entered the game scored at least one run.
The Ospreys were held scoreless in the first inning but were able to score at least one run in each of the remaining innings. North Florida broke the game open in the fourth inning with six runs, adding an additional seven runs in the sixth inning.
Dahl hit the second grand slam of the week for the Ospreys, breaking the game wide open. In addition, Dahl added a pair of doubles to finish the day 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a career high five RBI.
Sam Perry hit his team-leading sixth home run, while Alex Bacon hit his freshman-best fifth home run. Michael Wesner and Tyler Marincov each added home runs on the day.
Perry and T.J. Gavlik each recorded triples in the game, while Bacon and Stermer each added doubles. Bacon led all players with four runs scored, while Marincov added four RBI.
On the mound, starter Kyle Westwood picked up his second victory of the season. The sophomore scattered seven hits – all singles – in 7.0 innings of work. He surrendered just a pair of runs, walking a pair and striking out three.
Freshman Brandan Keen worked the final 2.0 innings with out allowing a run. He allowed just three hits and a walk, but managed to keep the Bruins off of the scoreboard in the final two innings of play.
North Florida scored first, taking a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Bacon led off the inning with a single up the middle. He moved to second base courtesy of a sacrifice bunt by Shane Kennedy. A ground out moved the freshman to within 90 feet of home. Marincov plated the first runner of the ballgame as he drove in Bacon with an infield RBI single to third base. Andrew Hannon continued the inning with a single to left field. Perry tripled down the right field line to score Marincov and Hannon and give the Ospreys a three-run advantage.
Belmont answered with a pair of base runs in the top of the third inning. A leadoff single started things off for the Bruins. A foul out recorded the first out of the inning, but a single up the middle left Belmont with runners on the corners. A pop out to third base left the runners at first and third with one out, but an RBI single through the right side of the infield scored the first run of the game for the Bruins. Belmont scored a second run in the inning thanks to an RBI single through the left side of the infield, cutting the UNF lead to 3-2.
The Ospreys were able to get a run back in the bottom of the third inning. Bacon doubled in the third inning with one out and came around to score on a two-out double by Dahl to increase the Ospreys lead to 4-2.
Leading by two, North Florida put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Ospreys scored six runs on four hits, including a grand slam to take a 10-2 lead. Hannon led off the inning with a single up the middle, moving to second base on a Perry sacrifice bunt. Alex Hernandez walked to give UNF a pair of base runners and Michael Smith walked to load the bases. Andrew Karmeris singled through the left side of the infield to score Hannon and Hernandez. After Karmeris stole second base, Bacon was intentionally walked to load the bases for the second time in the inning. Dahl lifted the first pitch he saw over the left field fence for his first grand slam of the season. The home run was Dahl's third of the season.
Perry led off the fifth inning with a home run to left center field to push the UNF advantage to 11-2.
The sixth inning was similar to the fourth for the Ospreys as the team scored seven runs on three hits to extend its lead to 18-2. Bacon led off the inning with a solo home run. Kennedy was hit by a pitch and Dahl walked to give UNF a pair of base runners. Stermer doubled to score Kennedy. Perry walked to load the bases. Gavlik reached on a fielder's choice, but an error on the play allowed all the runners to advance successfully with Dahl scoring on the play. An RBI groundout by Smith continued the inning. Wesner pinch hit with a pair of runners on base and homered to right field to score three runs for the Ospreys.
North Florida scored another three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. After a one-out double by Dahl, Marincov followed with a two-run home run to right field. Joe Iorio reached base on a throwing error by the Bruins and came around to score on Gavlik's first collegiate triple.
The final run of the game was scored by UNF in the bottom of the eighth inning. Bass and Kennedy drew back-to-back walks to start off the inning. Marincov delivered an RBI single up the middle to provide the final margin of victory at 22-2.
North Florida and Belmont conclude the three-game set with a single game on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Westwood, Kyle (2-1)
L: BUCKELEW, James (1-5)
Batting:
RBI: CRAIG, Dylan 1 ; ZEBLO, Matt 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MITCHELL, Zac 1 ; BRODY, Greg 1
Batting:
2B: Bacon, Alex 1 ; Dahl, Kyle 2 ; Stermer, Evan 1
3B: Gavlik, T.J. 1 ; Perry, Sam 1
HR: Wesner, Michael 1 ; Bacon, Alex 1 ; Dahl, Kyle 1 ; Marincov, Tyler 1 ; Perry, Sam 1
RBI: Gavlik, T.J. 2 ; Smith, Michael 1 ; Karmeris, Andrew 2 ; Wesner, Michael 3 ; Bacon, Alex 1 ; Dahl, Kyle 5 ; Marincov, Tyler 4 ; Stermer, Evan 1 ; Perry, Sam 3
SH: Kennedy, Shane 1 ; Perry, Sam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hernandez, Alex 1 ; Gavlik, T.J. 1 ; Karmeris, Andrew 1 ; Wesner, Michael 1 ; Bacon, Alex 4 ; Bass, Corey 1 ; Kennedy, Shane 2 ; Dahl, Kyle 3 ; Marincov, Tyler 2 ; Hannon, Andrew 2 ; Stermer, Evan 1 ; Perry, Sam 2 ; Iorio, Joe 1
SB: Karmeris, Andrew 1
HBP: Kennedy, Shane 2
