NEW ORLEANS, La. – The University of North Florida baseball team snapped its five game losing streak with a 13-6 victory over the University of New Orleans on Thursday night at Maestri Field in New Orleans.
The Ospreys (26-26) pounded out 14 hits on the night, led by junior Andrew Karmeris who finished a double shy of hitting for the cycle. Karmeris was 4-for-6 with a home run, a triple, two runs scored and three RBI. Evan Stermer finished the game 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBI, while Andrew Hannon was 2-for-4 with a run score and an RBI. Shane Kennedy and Alex Hernandez led the Ospreys with three runs scored, while Michael Smith drove in three runs.
On the mound, Robbie Collier got the start for the Ospreys. The senior tossed 5.2 innings, scattering five hits. Collier allowed six runs with just four earned runs and walked five. The southpaw also struck out seven batters in his final outing on the mound in a UNF uniform.
Brandan Keen worked the final 3.1 innings in relief, picking up his first collegiate save. The true freshman allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out three batters.
North Florida took the lead in the top of the third inning. With one out, Kennedy singled to start things off for the Ospreys. Karmeris followed with a two-out triple to left center field to score Kennedy from first and put UNF in front, 1-0.
The Ospreys broke the game open in the top of the fourth inning scoring five runs on four hits and a pair of errors by the Privateers. UNF sent nine batters to the plate in the inning. Hernandez led off the inning with a four-pitch walk. Stermer doubled down the right field line to give UNF a pair of base runners in scoring position. Smith reached base on a throwing error by UNO and Hernandez came around to score on the play. Hannon followed with an RBI single up the middle. Sam Perry dropped a single into right field just under the glove of a diving outfielder to load the bases. A fielder's choice left the bases loaded and eliminated the lead runner. Alex Bacon continued the inning with a two-RBI double to right center field. Karmeris reached on a fielding error that allowed the runner on third to score, putting the Ospreys in front 6-0.
The Privateers responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. UNO's Cameron Wheeless led off the inning with a solo home run to left field. Collier struck out the next three batters, but a wild pitch allowed one of the batters to reach base. A walk and a single allowed the second run of the inning to score. A second walk in the inning loaded the bases, but a fly ball ended the innings and the Privateers' threat.
UNF got a run back in the top of the fifth inning. Hernandez led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third base as Stermer reached base on a fielding error. Smith scored Hernandez from third with a sacrifice fly to center field, putting the Ospreys in front 7-2.
UNO trimmed the Ospreys lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. A throwing error by the Ospreys allowed the first base runner of the inning. Wheeless hit his second home run of the game. With one out, a walk and an error allowed left the Privateers with runners on the corners. A ground out scored the lead runner and a strikeout ended the inning with UNF in front 7-5.
North Florida increased its lead back to three with a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning. Karmeris hit his team leading 11th home run of the season, a towering shot to left field.
New Orleans answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs, UNO used a double to right center field to put a runner in scoring position. A wild pitch allowed the runner to advance to third base. A single through the left side of the infield scored the runner from third and cut the UNF lead to 8-6.
The Ospreys increased their lead with four runs in the top of the eighth inning. With one out, Karmeris singled through the left side of the infield and stole second to move into scoring position. Dahl singled to the shortstop, giving UNF runners on the corners. Hernandez loaded the bases with a walk. A single through the right side of the infield by Stermer scored two runners, but on the play an error by the Privateers allowed Hernandez to score and Stermer to move to second. Smith reached on an error that allowed Stermer to score, pushing the UNF lead to 12-6.
UNF added a run in the final inning to provide the final margin of victory, 13-6. Kennedy walked and Karmeris singled with one out. With two outs, Hernandez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Stermer drove home Kennedy with an RBI single.
North Florida continues its three-game series with New Orleans with a single game at Maestri Field on Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. (ET).
