Ferguson’s Walk-Off Grand Slam Propels Ospreys in 13th

Sunday, March 11

Jacksonville, Fla.

1 p.m.

University of North Florida

11-4

South Alabama

4-12

South Alabama

North Florida

3/11/2012 5:35:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

Boxscore

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team rallied from two runs down in the ninth inning to force extra innings with South Alabama and in the bottom of the 13th inning, the Ospreys benefited from a walk-off grand slam by redshirt freshman Garrick Ferguson to claim a 7-3 victory at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium and sweep the series. The home run was Ferguson's first collegiate homer and UNF's second walk-off home run of the year.

The Ospreys (11-4) earned the win in the bottom of the 13th inning. Andrew Karmeris led off the inning with a double – the third double UNF had in extra innings. Tyler Marincov was intentionally walked to try to set up a double play opportunity. With one out, Ryan Roberson delivered an infield single to third base to load the bases. With the bases loaded and one out, Ferguson stepped to the plate. With a 1-1 count, Ferguson came through for the Ospreys with his first collegiate home run – a walk-off grand slam.

Offensively, North Florida recorded 13 hits in the game, marking the 12th time this season UNF has had 10 or more hits in a game. The Ospreys had only three hits in the game heading into the ninth inning. Marincov and Roberson each finished the game with three hits apiece. In addition to a pair of singles, Marincov added a solo home run. Ferguson finished with a team-best four RBI while A. Karmeris and Marincov each scored a pair of runs on the day. A. Karmeris, Paul Karmeris and T.J. Gavlik each had doubles in the game and all three came in extra innings.

On the mound, Evan Stermer picked up his third victory of the season. The senior worked a career-best 3.2 innings of relief. Stermer allowed no runs on just one hit. He did not walk a batter, while striking out three.

Tommy Organ started the game, working a career-best 6.0 innings. The southpaw registered a quality start, surrendering three runs on seven hits. Organ fanned five batters and walked just two. He was relieved by Nick Allbritton. The junior college transfer did not allow a run in 3.1 innings of work. Allbritton struck out four batters while allowing two walks and a base hit.

North Florida was the first team to score, breaking the scoreless tie in the bottom of the second inning. Marincov led off the inning with his team-leading third home run of the season. The solo shot gave the Ospreys an early 1-0 advantage.

South Alabama took the lead in the top of the sixth inning with three runs. The Jaguars used a single and a failed pickoff attempt by the Ospreys to place a runner on third base with one out. The next batter walked to give USA runners on the corners. The lead runner came around to score on an RBI single to right field. With two runners on base and one out, South Alabama loaded the bases with a single to shallow center field. North Florida struck out the next batter, but a wild pitch on the final strike left the bases loaded and scored a run. The final run of the inning came on an RBI single up the middle. The Ospreys escaped further damage with a strikeout to end the inning, but UNF trailed 3-1 after five and a half innings of play.

The score remained 3-1 until the bottom of the ninth. Joe Wielbruda reached base on a fielding error by South Alabama's third baseman. A. Karmeris followed with a single to right field to give North Florida a pair of base runners. Marincov loaded the bases with a single to left field. Bryan Mathews entered the game as a pinch hitter and continued the inning with an RBI single to left field. Down 3-2 with the bases loaded, Roberson tied the game with an RBI single through the right side of the infield. The Ospreys were unable to earn the win in regulation as a strikeout and a double play ended the inning.

The Ospreys threatened in extra innings with doubles in the 10th and the 12th, but UNF was unable to score the runners from second base.

North Florida hits the road for five consecutive games, beginning with a pair of midweek games against FIU in Miami, Fla. The first game is slated for Tuesday, March 13 at 6:00 p.m., while the second game will be played at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 14.