Baseball Falls in Walk-Off Fashion

Sunday, February 26

Jacksonville, Ala.

2 p.m.

University of North Florida

4-3

Jacksonville State

1-4

North Florida

Jacksonville State

2/26/2012 4:55:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

Boxscore

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The University of North Florida baseball team battled hard and led for most of the game, but a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning propelled Jacksonville State to a 3-2 victory over the Ospreys on Sunday afternoon at Rudy Abbott Field in Jacksonville, Ala.

The Ospreys (4-3) took the lead in the fourth inning, but the Gamecocks (1-4) tied the score in the fifth. UNF regained the lead in the sixth inning and held it until the pivotal bottom of the ninth.

North Florida out hit Jacksonville State 9-to-7, but had no extra base hits in the game. Both teams left five runners apiece on base. Defense was stellar for both teams with the Ospreys turning four double plays and the Gamecocks registering three. Both teams had one error apiece on failed pick off attempts.

On the mound, the pitching tandem of Nick Allbritton and Tyler Moore combined for 10 strikeouts compared to just five walks. Allbritton earned his first start for UNF, working 4.1 innings. He scattered four hits, allowing one run. Allbritton struckout four batters, but allowed three walks. Moore entered the game in relief, tossing 4.1 innings. He surrendered two runs on two hits. Moore walked a pair and struck out six batters.

Offensively, the Ospreys were led by Tyler Marincov and Drew Weeks who each had two hits apiece. Marincov led the team with two RBI on the afternoon, while Joe Wielbruda scored both runs for North Florida.

Allbritton worked out of a jam in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, JSU received a triple just out of the reach of a diving Marincov in right field. Allbritton answered with a strikeout and then induced an inning-ending groundout to escape the inning without any damage done.

The Ospreys broke the scoreless tie with a run in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Wielbruda drew a walk to start things off for UNF. He advanced to second on a failed pick off attempt. Wielbruda moved to within 90 feet of home on a ground out. Marincov came through with an RBI single up the middle, giving North Florida a 1-0 advantage.

The Gamecocks responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. JSU led off the inning with a single through the left side of the infield. The Ospreys used a strikeout looking for the first out of the inning. A second single in the inning to give the hosts a pair of runners on the corners. The Gamecocks loaded the bases with a walk, prompting a pitching change by the Ospreys. Moore struck out the first batter he faced, but gave up a bases loaded walk to tie the game at 1-1. The sophomore ended the inning with his second strikeout of the inning.

UNF regained the lead in the top of the sixth inning. Wielbruda reached base on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a wild pitch. For the second time in the game, Marincov came through for the Ospreys with an RBI single to score Wielbruda, giving the Ospreys a 2-1 edge.

Neither team managed to score until the final inning. After recording a groundout to the leadoff batter, the Ospreys surrendered a single to right center field. Moore fanned the next batter for the second out of the inning. However, with two outs, JSU's Michael Bishop hit a home run to left field to give Jacksonville State a 3-2 victory.

North Florida returns to action with a pair of home games against Georgia Southern. The Ospreys and Eagles begin play on Thursday, Mar. 1 at 6:00 p.m. at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.