Boxscore
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team defeated Belmont, 17-9, on Sunday afternoon at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium to complete the three-game Atlantic Sun Conference sweep.
The Ospreys improved to 14-11 overall and 6-6 in the Atlantic Sun, while the Bruins fell to 12-13 overall and 3-6 in the conference.
Offensively, North Florida belted out 22 hits on the day en route to 17 runs. The Ospreys had eight extra base hits on the afternoon with four doubles and four home runs. Every starter in the UNF lineup had at least one base hit with six batters recording multiple hits on the afternoon.
Andrew Karmeris finished the day 4-for-5 with a home run and a double. The junior led all Ospreys with five RBI on the day. Freshman Tyler Marincov went 3-for-6 on the afternoon with a pair of home runs and a double. Alex Hernandez recorded three hits on the afternoon with a home run and a double. Sam Perry fished the day with three hits, driving in a pair of runs. Perry and Hernandez each scored a team-best three runs apiece.
On the mound, starter Tommy Organ earned a no-decision in the game. The starter did not have his best game and was roughed up, going just 1.2 innings surrendering five hits. He walked three while striking out just two, giving up a season-high five runs.
Tyler Moore entered the game in relief. The true freshman went 3.1 innings allowing just a pair of hits. Moore did surrender four runs and four walks, but struck out a career-best six batters en route to his first collegiate victory.
Clayton Schulz worked 0.2 scoreless innings allowing a pair of hits. Chandler Jagodzinski earned his second save of the season. The junior pitched 3.1 innings of relief surrendering three hits with no walks.
Belmont was the first team to scratch the scoreboard, plating four runs in the top of the first inning. The leadoff batter for the Bruins walked to start things off, advancing to third on a single by the next batter. An RBI single just over the head of the UNF pitcher scored the first run of the game. A stolen base moved the lead runner to third base, but the Ospreys were able to throw out the trail runner for the first out of the game. A walk gave Belmont runners on the corners and Judah Akers pushed the lead to 4-0 with a three-run home run.
North Florida got a run back as Hernandez led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run to left center field. The home run was Hernandez's third of the season and cut the Bruins lead to just three runs, 4-1.
The Bruins added a run in the top of the second inning to extend their lead back to four. A double to left field started the inning for Belmont. The runner came around to score on and RBI single to right field.
The Ospreys took the lead in the bottom of the second inning, scoring six runs on seven hits. Marincov led off the inning with a solo home run to left center field, jumping on the first pitch he saw. Corey Bass followed with a single to left field. Shane Kennedy singled through the left side of the infield, giving UNF a pair of base runners. After an out, Perry delivered an RBI single through the left side of the infield, scoring Bass on the play. Hernandez doubled to left center field to score Kennedy and Perry, tying the score at 5-5. Michael Smith walked to continue the inning. Karmeris followed with an infield single off of the chest of the Belmont third baseman, allowing Hernandez to score and giving the Ospreys their first lead of the game. Alex Bacon doubled down the left field line to score Smith and put UNF in front 7-5.
North Florida added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Hannon led off the inning with a single up the middle. Perry laid down a bunt, but was able to beat the throw for an infield single. Hernandez moved the runners 90 feet with a sacrifice bunt. Smith singled to first base to score Hannon from third. Karmeris singled to left field, scoring Perry and giving UNF a 9-5 advantage.
The Ospreys scored a run in the fourth inning as Marincov hit his second solo home run of the game. For the second time in the game, Marincov hit the first pitch he saw over the left center field wall to increase the UNF lead to 10-5.
The Bruins chipped away at the Ospreys lead with three runs in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, Nate Woods hit a solo home run to get things started for Belmont. A walk gave the Bruins a base runner for Tim Egerton who hit a two-run homer to cut the UNF advantage to 10-8. The Ospreys escaped further damage with back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
In the sixth inning, Belmont added a run to cut the North Florida lead to just one run. A four-pitch leadoff walk started things off for the Bruins. A fielder's choice and a UNF error left the Bruins with a runner on second base. A deep fly ball moved the runner to third base and an RBI single cut the lead to 10-9.
North Florida responded with six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to regain control of the game. With one out, Kennedy singled to left field and Hannon followed with a single to right field. With runners on the corners, Perry singled up the middle to score Kennedy. Hernandez loaded the bases with a single to center field. Smith followed with a two-RBI single through the right side of the infield. A wild pitch moved Smith into scoring position, but it would not matter as Karmeris hit a three-run home run to right field to put the Ospreys in front 16-9.
UNF scored an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Evan Stermer drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Stermer came around to score on Marincov's RBI double, providing the final margin of victory, 17-9.
North Florida returns to the field for a pair of nonconference midweek games. The Ospreys head to Dayton Beach, Fla. on Tuesday to take on Bethune-Cookman, before returning home to Jacksonville to take on USF on Wednesday night at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.
