Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida won the opening game of a doubleheader with defending Atlantic Sun Conference champions Florida Gulf Coast, winning 10-3, but fell 5-4 in 13 innings in the night cap to split the twin bill on Saturday afternoon at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.
Offensively, North Florida was led by true freshman Alex Bacon. He batted .556 on the day, going 5-for-9 with a double and three runs scored. Andrew Karmeris finished the day 4-for-8 (.500) with three runs scored and two RBI. Andrew Karmeris also walked three times, including a pair of intentional walks for an on-base percentage of .636 on the day.
The Ospreys had six extra base hits on the day. Seniors Kyle Dahl and Sam Perry each blasted home runs on the day, while Bacon, Dahl, Andrew Hannon and Shane Kennedy each recorded doubles.
On the mound, starters Paul Karmeris and Kyle Westwood each earned no decisions in their outings despite quality starts. Paul Karmeris worked 4.2 innings scattering five hits allowing a pair of runs. The sophomore transfer walked a pair of batters with four strikeouts. Westwood tossed 7.0 innings with six hits. He was responsible for two runs walking one and striking out a team-best five batters on the day.
Chandler Jagodzinski earned the win in the first game. The junior transfer worked 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing no hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
Andrew Karmeris took the hard luck loss in the second game. The junior pitched a career-high 3.2 innings of relief. He surrendered just two hits, but was responsible for the run FGCU scored in the top of the 13th inning. Andrew Karmeris also tied a career-high with two strikeouts in the game.
GAME ONE RECAP
In the first game of the day, the Ospreys jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead after just one inning of play. Back-to-back walks to Hannon and Michael Smith started things off for North Florida. Andrew Karmeris delivered an RBI single to center field to score the first run of the game. With runners on the corners, Tyler Marincov hit a sacrifice fly to right field to give UNF a two-run advantage. Andrew Karmeris stole second base to move into scoring position. A single by Dahl moved Andrew Karmeris to third and a sacrifice fly by Kennedy gave North Florida a 3-0 lead after one inning.
North Florida added a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, Hannon doubled down the left field line. Andrew Karmeris drew a two-out intentional walk. After a pitching change, Marincov reached base on a fielding error that allowed Hannon to score. Dahl followed with an RBI single to give UNF a 5-0 advantage.
UNF added a run in the third inning. Bacon singled in the inning and came around to score on an RBI single by Hannon, putting the Ospreys ahead 6-0.
Florida Gulf Coast cut into the North Florida lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs and a runner on first base, the Eagles used a double down the left field line to score the first run of the game. With a runner on second base and two outs, a single to left field scored the runner, cutting the UNF advantage to 6-2.
The Ospreys answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Smith and Andrew Karmeris delivered back-to-back singles to give UNF a pair of base runners. With two outs, Dahl doubled down the left field line, scoring Smith and Andrew Karmeris and pushing the Osprey lead to 8-2.
The Eagles scored their final run of the first game in the top of the seventh inning. A one-out single started things for FGCU and a two-out single extended the inning. A fielding error by the Ospreys loaded the bases and a walk allowed a run to score.
North Florida added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Kennedy led off the seventh inning with his first collegiate hit, a double down the right field line. Corey Bass moved Kennedy to third with a sacrifice bunt. An RBI single by Alex Hernandez plated Kennedy from third. In the eighth, Smith reached base on a throwing error by Florida Gulf Coast, advancing all the way to third base on the play. An RBI single by Andrew Karmeris scored the final run of the game for the Ospreys, giving UNF a 10-3 victory.
GAME TWO RECAP
In game two, the Ospreys scored the first run of the game, plating a run in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, Dahl hit a home run to left center field to put North Florida in front 1-0. The home run was Dahl's second of the season and second of the week, belting a home run in the Ospreys' Wednesday night victory over Georgia Southern.
North Florida added a run in the bottom of the third inning. Bacon led off the inning with a double to center field. Perry laid down a bunt to move Bacon over to third. The bunt was well placed and Perry was able to reach base with an infield single. The Eagles mishandled the ball and Bacon was able to advance all the way home on the play.
UNF added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Bacon singled to right center field. Perry increased the Osprey lead to 4-0 with a home run on top of the roof of the batting cages behind the left field wall.
FGCU cut the North Florida lead in half with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning. The Eagles led off the top of the eighth inning with back-to-back singles. After a pitching change for the Ospreys, a ground out moved the two runners into scoring position. North Florida struck out the next batter, but a walk loaded the bases for Florida Gulf Coast. A two-RBI single by FGCU's Tim Roberson trimmed the Ospreys lead to 4-2.
Florida Gulf Coast tied the score in the top of the ninth inning. A pair of consecutive one-out singles gave the visitors a pair of base runners. The runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. An error by the Ospreys extended the inning and allowed the Eagles to tie the score at 4-4.
Neither team could score in next three innings of play. In the 11th inning, a leadoff single by smith and a walk by Andrew Karmeris gave the Ospreys a pair of base runners with no outs, but a pair of strikeouts and a fly ball ended the inning and the UNF threat.
FGCU took the lead in the top of the 13th inning. A leadoff walk started the inning for the Eagles. After a pitching change, Florida Gulf Coast attempted a sacrifice bunt, but the ball went straight Clayton Schulz who quickly went to second with the ball to eliminate the lead runner. A strikeout left the Eagles with a runner on first and two outs. A double to center field scored the runner from first giving the Eagles their first lead of the day at 5-4.
Hernandez led off the bottom of the 13th with a single to right field. Smith moved Hernandez into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Andrew Karmeris was intentionally walked giving UNF a pair of base runners. A groundout moved both runners into scoring position and a walk loaded the bases with two outs. With the bases loaded and two outs, UNF was unable to score a run as a strikeout ended the game.
North Florida will be back in action on Tuesday, March 8, as the Ospreys begin a two-game midweek series against Wagner. First pitch for the game is slated for 7:00 p.m. at Harmon Stadium. On Wednesday, March 9, UNF will conclude the two-game set against Wagner with a game beginning at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday's game will be “PJ's in the Park” with fans wearing pajamas to the game.
