COLUMBUS, Ohio – The University of North Florida baseball team played a pair of seven inning games against Big Ten opponent Ohio State on Wednesday afternoon at Bill Davis Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The two teams split the series with the Ospreys (24-19) taking game one, 7-2, and the Buckeyes (20-19) edging UNF, 3-2, in game two.
On the mound in game one, Marshal Rosenberger picked up his third victory of the season. The sophomore tossed 6.0 innings, scattering four hits. He allowed a pair of runs. He walked five batters while tying a career high with five strikeouts. Rosenberger ended the first three innings with a strikeout and retired nine consecutive batters at one point. He gave way in the final inning of the game to Casey Medlen, who allowed no runs on one hit, while striking out one.
Offensively in game one, the Ospreys recorded seven runs on seven hits. Kyle Dahl had the only extra base hit of the game, recording a two-RBI double in the first inning. The senior added a sacrifice fly to lead the team with three RBI in the first game. Michael Smith led the Ospreys in game one with three hits, scoring a team best two runs in the game.
In game two, starter Tommy Organ earned a no decision. The southpaw worked 5.2 innings, allowing just a pair of runs on two hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out two. Organ did not allow a hit for the first give innings of the game, facing the minimum until the sixth inning. Kyle Westwood took the hard luck loss for the Ospreys. The sophomore pitched one inning allowing just one run on three hits. Chandler Jagodzinski surrendered just one hit and a walk in relief.
The Ospreys had eight hits in game two, led by senior Andrew Hannon who finished the game 3-for-3. Hannon added an RBI in the game. Corey Bass had an RBI single in the game, while Alex Bacon and Alex Hernandez each scored a run. Bacon had the only extra base hit of the game for North Florida, doubling down the left field line.
GAME ONE RECAP
North Florida took the lead in the top of the first inning of game one. Shane Kennedy started off the game by getting hit by a pitch. He moved to second as Michael Wesner drew a four-pitch walk. Smith laid down a bunt single down the third base line to load the bases for the Ospreys. Bacon singled to third base to score the first run of the game. Hernandez hit a deep fly ball to center field to score Wesner on the sacrifice fly. With runners on second and third and two outs, Dahl cleared the bases with a two-RBI double to left center field. A ground out ended the inning, but saw North Florida out front, 4-0.
Ohio State cut the UNF lead in half with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. The Buckeyes led off the inning with a walk. OSU's Matt Streng hit a two-run home run to cut the Osprey lead to just 4-2. With two outs, the Buckeyes put a pair of runners in scoring position. Back-to-back walks combined with a wild pitch left the hosts with runners on second and third. The Ospreys escaped without any more damage as Rosenberger struck out the final batter of the inning to end the threat.
The Ospreys added a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning. Smith led off the inning with a single to left center field. With one out, Bacon walked to give UNF a pair of base runners. Evan Stermer followed with an RBI single to right center field. Dahl scored Hernandez with a sacrifice fly to right field to put the Ospreys in front 6-2.
UNF added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning. T.J. Gavlik led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kennedy. With two outs, Smith delivered an RBI single up the middle to score Gavlik and put the Ospreys in front 7-2.
The pitching staff was able to keep the Buckeyes off of the scoreboard and thwart any comeback attempt to preserve the 7-2 victory in game one.
GAME TWO RECAP
For the second game in a row, North Florida was the first team to score, scratching the scoreboard in the top of the second inning. With one out, Bacon doubled down the left field line. A deep fly ball allowed Bacon to advance to within 90 feet of home. Hannon singled to right field to score Bacon from third and give the Ospreys a 1-0 lead.
The Ospreys added a run in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Hernandez drew a four-pitch walk. Smith followed with a single through the right side. Bass drove home Hernandez with an RBI single to right center field, putting North Florida in front 2-0.
North Florida held Ohio State without a base hit until the sixth inning. With one out, the Buckeyes used a bunt single and a throwing error to put a runner in scoring position. A ground out moved the runner to third base. An RBI double scored the first run of the game for Ohio State. The batter was hit by a pitch to continue the inning. The Ospreys went to the bullpen and brought in Westwood. An RBI single tied the game and a fielder's choice ended the inning, leaving the score knotted at 2-2.
The Buckeyes won the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. With two outs, Ohio State started the rally with a pair of singles. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. The Buckeyes used a walk to load the bases. OSU's Brian DeLucia dropped a ball just inside of foul territory in right field for the game-winning RBI base hit to give the hosts a 3-2 victory.
North Florida returns to action on Friday, May 6, as the Ospreys take on crosstown rival Jacksonville in the 2011 edition of the River City Rumble. The first game of the series will be on Friday at 6:30 p.m. for JU Senior Night at John Sessions Stadium on the JU campus.The second contest of the series will be played at the home of the Double-A Jacksonville Suns for the second straight year. Gates will open at 11:30 a.m. and admission is $5 for all fans (all ages) – tickets can be purchased at the ticket windows the day of the game. The final game of the series was moved to 2:00 p.m. and will return to JU's campus and be played at Sessions Stadium.
