NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The University of North Florida baseball team scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning to take a 6-4 lead that the Ospreys would not relinquish, defeating Lipscomb on Saturday afternoon at Ken Dugan Field in Nashville, Tenn.
The Ospreys improved to 15-13 overall and pulled even in Atlantic Sun Conference play at 7-7, while the Bisons fell to 11-16 overall and 3-5 in the conference.
North Florida registered seven hits on the day with two extra base hits. Shane Kennedy hit a home run for the Ospreys, while Michael Wesner added a triple on the afternoon. Kennedy led all Ospreys with three hits on the day. He scored a team-best two runs on the day, while adding an RBI. Alex Hernandez led the Ospreys with a pair of RBI.
On the mound, the UNF pitching staff combined for 11 strikeouts compared to just one walk.
Kyle Westwood started the game, working 5.1 innings. The sophomore surrendered three runs with a pair of earned runs on nine hits. He struck out a career-high seven batters while walking just one.
Tommy Organ worked the next inning in relief, surrendering one unearned run on one hit and striking out one. Tyler Moore recorded his second victory of the year, tossing the final 2.2 innings of the game in relief. The freshman did not allow a hit while striking out three batters.
North Florida threatened in the top of the first inning. With one out, Alex Bacon drew a free pass, giving the Ospreys their first base runner of the day. He advanced to third base courtesy of an Andrew Karmeris single into shallow right field. With runners on the corners and two outs, a fly ball to deep center field ended the inning and the UNF threat.
Lipscomb led off the bottom of the first inning with a triple off of the wall in right center field. The Ospreys used some good defense to escape the inning without allowing a run. The next batter lined into a double play back to the pitcher to eliminate the runner. With two outs and no runners on base, Westwood ended the inning with his first strikeout of the game.
The Ospreys led off the second inning with a bunt single by Kennedy. He moved to second base on a ground out and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Kennedy would advance no further as a strikeout ended the inning, leaving the runner stranded.
The Bisons were the first team to score, taking a 2-0 lead in the second inning. With one out, Lipscomb got a infield single to shortstop. The runner advanced to second base as the next batter reached base on a throwing error by UNF. An RBI single through the left side of the infield scored the first run of the game for the Bisons. A strikeout recorded the second out of the inning, but a walk loaded the bases. A wild pitch scored the lead runner from third base, but Westwood got out of the inning with a strikeout.
UNF cut the deficit in half with a solo home run by Kennedy. The home run was the second of the season for Kennedy and the second of the series for the freshman. Kennedy had an inside the park home run on Friday night against Lipscomb.
Lipscomb increased its lead back to a pair with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs, the Bisons used three consecutive singles to score a run and increase its lead to 3-1.
The Ospreys got a lead off triple in the top of the fifth inning by Wesner. With one out and Wesner on third base, Hernandez hit a ball to short that was mishandled by the Lipscomb shortstop. Wesner scored easily from third and Hernandez reached base safely on the play. Bacon drew a walk to give UNF a pair of base runners. A fielder's choice left the Ospreys with runners on the corner, but a groundout ended the inning and the North Florida rally, however, the Ospreys trimmed the lead to 3-2.
North Florida knotted the score at 3-3 with a run in the top of the seventh inning. T.J. Gavlik entered the game to pinch hit and delivered a single up the middle. He moved to second base on a on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Hernandez. On the play, the third baseman for Lipscomb could not handle the ball allowing Hernandez to reach base on the play. Bacon followed with a successful sacrifice bunt, moving both runners. Michael Smith scored the lead runner with an RBI ground out to second base.
Lipscomb regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. A fielding error allowed the first batter of the inning to reach base safely. After a strikeout, a single left the hosts with runners on the corners. The Bisons regained the lead with a sacrifice fly to center field, giving Lipscomb a 4-3 advantage.
The Ospreys rallied to take the lead in the top of the eighth inning. Evan Stermer led off the inning with a four-pitch walk. Joe Iorio entered the game to pinch run for Stermer. Kennedy moved Iorio to second with a single up the middle. Kyle Dahl attempted to lay down the sacrifice bunt, but the pitcher opted to attempt to get the lead runner. His throw was off the mark, loading the bases with no outs. A strikeout left the bases loaded for Gavlik who was able to reach base on a fielding error by the Bisons. Iorio and Kennedy scored on the play, giving UNF its first lead in the series. After a pitching change, Hernandez continued the inning with an RBI single to shallow right field. A wild pitch moved both runners up a base, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning with North Florida in front 6-4.
The Ospreys defense held strong in the final two innings, preserving the victory for UNF.
North Florida and Lipscomb will conclude the three-game tilt with a single game on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. (ET).
