Boxscore
 
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team surrendered four runs in the final inning, but came away with an 8-7 victory over South Alabama to secure the series on Saturday afternoon at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.  With the win, the Ospreys improved to 10-4 overall and 5-2 at home.
 
North Florida led 8-3 heading into the final inning of play, but South Alabama refused to go down without a fight.  The Jaguars used a pinch hit single to start the inning.  The Ospreys hit a batter with a pitch to give USA a pair of base runners.  UNF used a fielder's choice for the first out of the inning, leaving South Alabama with runners on the corners. North Florida moved to within on out of victory with a strikeout.  South Alabama used an RBI single and an error to score a pair of runners.  The Jaguars continued the inning with an RBI double and an RBI single.  The Ospreys hit another batter with a pitch to load the bases, but North Florida slammed the door shut on the comeback with a game-ending strikeout.
 
The Ospreys benefited in the game from a solid pitching performance by starter Michael Renner.  The junior tossed a season-best 7.2 innings – the most by any UNF pitcher this season.  The southpaw scattered eight hits on the day with only two extra base hits. Renner allowed three runs with only a pair of earned runs.  He walked one batter, while striking out three en route to his third victory of the season. 
 
Tyler Moore earned the save in 1.1 innings of relief.  The sophomore allowed four runs on four hits.  Moore did not issue a walk, but hit two batters, while striking out two more. 
 
Offensively, North Florida notched 15 hits for the second consecutive game against South Alabama.  The Ospreys have recorded 10 or more hits in 11 games this season and eight or more hits in all 14 games on the year.  Five different UNF players finished the game with multiple hits.
 
Alex Bacon and Ryan Roberson each had three hits apiece on the day. Roberson finished the game with a double and a home run. Garrick Ferguson, who made his first collegiate start, also added a double on the day in a two-hit performance.  Ferguson also added a stolen base, as the redshirt freshman stole home on a double steal by the Ospreys.  Corey Bass finished the day 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI.  Roberson and Joe Wielbruda led UNF with a pair of runs scored. 
 
South Alabama started the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning.  After striking out the first batter of the game, Renner hit the next batter with a pitch. A double down the right field line gave the Jaguars a pair of base runners in scoring position.  USA used a single up the middle to take the early 1-0 lead.  UNF used a double play to end the inning.
 
North Florida responded with a run in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 1-1. Bass led off the Ospreys' half of the inning with a double down the left field line. Bass advanced to third on a ground out to first base. Andrew Karmeris plated Bass with an RBI groundout to knot the score at one apiece.
 
The Ospreys took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Roberson led off the inning with a double down the left field line. With one out, Bacon sinvled to left center field to give UNF runners on the corners. Ferguson followed with an RBI single to right field, scoring Roberson from third. Joe Iorio loaded the bases with a single to center field. With the bases loaded and one out, Bass drove in the second run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to right field.  On the play, Ferguson advanced to third leaving the Ospreys with runners on the corners.  North Florida took advantage of the situation as the Ferguson and Iorio successfully executed a double steal to score the final run of the inning.
 
The Jaguars used a run in the top of the third inning to cut the Osprey lead in half. USA benefited from a fielding error by the UNF to place a runner on first base. The runner advanced to third on a double to left center field. The lead runner scored on an RBI ground out.  North Florida prevented any more runs from crossing the plate with a pop up and a fly ball to center field, keeping the score 4-2.
 
UNF extended its lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Iorio led off the inning with a four-pitch walk. With one out, Wielbruda singled towards third base. The pitcher fielded the ball and threw it away, allowing Wielbruda to advance all the way to third and Iorio to score. Marincov scored Wiebruda from third with an RBI single. South Alabama used a ground out to end the inning as North Florida held a 6-2 advantage.
 
USA chipped away at the lead with a run in the top of the sixth inning. The Jaguars used a single, a ground out and a second single to score a run and trim the Ospreys' lead to 6-3.
 
In the bottom of the seventh inning, North Florida added an insurance run on one swing. Roberson led off the seventh with his team-leading third home run of the season. The solo homer was into the wind and over the left field fence.
 
The Ospreys manufactured what would prove to be the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Wielbruda led off the inning with a single through the left side of the infield. Back-to-back two-out wild pitches allowed Wielbruda to move to third base. Roberson walked and Bryan Mathews followed with an RBI single to short. The run proved to be the game-winner as South Alabama rallied for four runs in the top of the ninth.
 
North Florida and South Alabama will conclude the three-game series with a single game on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.