JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team surrendered five home runs on a windy day at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium to fall 11-6 to Mercer on Saturday afternoon.
The loss evens the series at one game apiece with the rubber match of the series to be played tomorrow. North Florida falls to 21-15 overall and 11-9 in the A-Sun, while the win improves Mercer to 24-14 overall and 9-10 in the conference.
Offensively, the Ospreys belted out 16 hits, outhitting the Bears by one. However, Mercer was able to connect on five home runs in the blustery day, while UNF was unable to benefit from the long ball.
North Florida had five different players record multiple hits in the game, led by Kyle Dahl who finished the day 4-for-5 with a double. Michael Smith and Andrew Karmeris each finished the day with three hits with Smith doubling twice on the afternoon. Alex Hernandez and Shane Kennedy each had a pair of hits on the day with each freshman, recording a double.
On the mound, Kyle Westwood was the pitcher of record for the Ospreys. The sophomore was charged with nine runs on nine hits, including five home runs in 4.0 innings of work. Westwood finished the day with three strikeouts and one walk.
Tommy Organ worked the final 5.0 innings in relief. He scattered six hits, surrendering a pair of runs. Organ walked just one batter while striking out three.
Mercer was the first team to scratch the scoreboard. For the second consecutive day, with a runner on base, Jacob Tanis hit a two-run home run to quickly put the Bears in front, 2-0. A walk proved to be costly as John Moreland hit a two-run home run to right field. A third home run of the inning allowed the final run of the inning and put the Ospreys behind, 5-0 early.
North Florida responded with five runs in the bottom of the second inning to tie the score at 5-5. Smith led off the inning with a double to left center field. Tyler Marincov singled to left field to give UNF runners on the corners. Kyle Dahl scored Smith with a single to center field. With runners on the corners, Hernandez doubled to center field to score Marincov. Kennedy followed with a two-RBI double down the left field line. Karmeris singled up the middle to score Kennedy and knot the score at five.
The Bears regained the lead in the top of the third inning. A single through the right side of the infield started the inning for the visitors. After an out, a double gave Mercer a pair of runners in scoring position. A ground out and a single plated the lead runners and put the Bears in front 7-5.
Mercer increased its lead to 9-5 with back-to-back home runs to lead off the fifth inning. The Bears added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning. A double put a runner in scoring position and an error moved the runner to within 90 feet of home. A double down the right field line plated the runner and increased the Bears advantage to 10-5.
The Ospreys cut into the Bears' lead with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Alex Bacon singled through the left side of the infield. Smith brought home Bacon with an RBI double to left center field.
Mercer added a run in the top of the eighth inning. A two-out double, followed by an RBI single scored the run and provided the final margin of victory, 11-6.
North Florida and Mercer conclude the three-game tilt on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.
