JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team defeated Savannah State, 13-4, on Tuesday afternoon at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.
Offensively, the Ospreys (17-13) scored 13 runs on 13 hits, including three home runs and five doubles. Michael Smith, Alex Bacon, Evan Stermer and Shane Kennedy each had two hits apiece on the day. Stermer finished the day, 2-for-3 with two home runs, a walk, a hit by pitch, three runs scored and four runs batted in. Bacon was 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, a walk, three runs scored and four RBI. Kennedy finished the day 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two RBI. Smith, Kyle Dahl and Sam Perry each had a double on the day.
On the mound, Tommy Organ picked up his third victory of the season. The southpaw worked 3.0 innings in a controlled start, scattering three hits. He allowed one run with a pair of walks and four strikeouts.
Marshal Rosenberger pitched 4.0 innings of relief. The sophomore surrendered three runs on six hits and a walk. Rosenberger posted four strikeouts on the afternoon. Andrew Karmeris earned the save tossing the final 2.0 innings, earning his team-leading fourth save of the season. He entered the game in a save situation, recording two strikeouts.
Savannah State was the first team to score, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Tigers led off the game with a double down the left field line and scored on an RBI single to right center field. The Ospreys escaped the inning without any more runs scored. A groundout and back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning.
North Florida took the lead in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs, back-to-back walks to Bacon and Stermer gave UNF a runner in scoring position. Kennedy drove in both runners with a two-RBI double to center field, putting the Ospreys ahead 2-1 after one inning of play.
The Ospreys plated three runs in the bottom of the third inning to extend their lead. With one out, Smith singled to right field and came around to score on a Bacon double to center field. Stermer followed with his first home run of the day, giving UNF a 5-1 advantage.
UNF added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Smith led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a deep fly ball. He came around to score on an RBI groundout.
The Tigers cut into the Ospreys lead with a run in the top of the sixth inning. With one out and a runner on first base, a single left Savannah State with a pair of runners on base. A walk loaded the bases with only one out. The next batter hit into a fielder's choice that scored the runner, but on the play he was thrown out at second base to end the inning.
Savannah State cut the North Florida lead to just 6-4 with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning. The Tigers started off the inning with a double to right field and the runner came around to score on an RBI single up the middle. Back-to-back singles loaded the bases. After a pitching change, a sacrifice fly scored the second run of the inning and trimmed the Ospreys lead to just a pair.
North Florida responded with seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to put the game out of reach. Stermer led off the inning with a solo home run to right field, his second home run of the game. T.J. Gavlik laid down a bunt single in between the pitchers mound and third base. Michael Wesner followed with a single to first base. A fielder's choice left UNF with runners on first and second and one out. Dahl doubled to left field scoring Wesner on the play. Perry doubled to right center field to score Hannon. Alex Hernandez continued the inning with an RBI single to left field. With two runners on base and two outs, Bacon hit his team-leading seventh home run of the season to put the Ospreys ahead 13-4.
The baseball team continues Atlantic Sun Conference play with a three-game series against Campbell. The games against the Camels begin on Friday, April 8, with a single game slated for 6:00 p.m. The series concludes with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 9, beginning at 1:00 p.m.
