TAMPA, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team fell 4-1 on the road on Tuesday night to USF in a nonconference midweek tilt at the USF Baseball Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The Ospreys (25-26) out hit the Bulls (23-28), 8-to-7, but were unable to get timely hits, scoring just one run and stranding 11 runners on base.
Offensively, UNF recorded eight hits on the night, including five doubles, led by Kyle Dahl, Alex Hernandez and Andrew Karmeris. The trio had two hits apiece with Hernandez registering a pair of doubles and an RBI. Dahl and Karmeris each had a double apiece. Joe Iorio added a double, eventually coming around to score the only run of the night for the Ospreys.
On the mound, Clayton Schulz took the loss for UNF. The sophomore tossed 5.0 innings, scattering six hits. He surrendered four runs, walking one and striking out a pair. Schulz gave way to Casey Medlen in the sixth inning. Medlen worked the final 3.0 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out a pair.
USF was the first team to score, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Bulls led off the game with a double to right center field. The next batter followed with an RBI single up the middle to put the home team in front, 1-0. A groundout recorded the first out of the inning, leaving a runner on second base. The next batter singled through the left side of the infield to score the runner from second.
North Florida cut the lead in half with a run in the top of the third inning. Iorio led off the inning with his first collegiate double. The freshman advanced to third on a deep fly ball by Corey Bass. Hernandez scored Iorio from third base with an RBI double to right center field, cutting the deficit to one, 2-1.
The Ospreys threatened in the top of the fourth inning. Dahl led off the inning with a walk. Andrew Hannon attempted a sacrifice fly, but the Bulls opted to try to get Dahl out at second. The throw was off the mark, allowing both Dahl and Hannon to reach base safely. Michael Smith moved the runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt. Sam Perry loaded the bases with a walk. However, UNF was unable to score a run as a strikeout and a fly ball ended the inning and the Osprey threat.
The Bulls used a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend their lead to 4-1. A single and a walk left the home team with a pair of base runners. A sacrifice bunt advanced both runners into scoring position. A ground out recorded the second out of the inning, but allowed a run to score in the process. With a runner on second base and two outs, the next USF batter singled through the right side of the infield to score another run. The Ospreys used a pop up to first base to end the inning.
Neither team was able to score in the final three innings with the Bulls holding on for the 4-1 victory.
North Florida concludes the season with a three-game nonconference series on the road against New Orleans. The series with the Privateers begins on Thursday night at Maestri Field in New Orleans.
