Boxscore
 
MIAMI, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team fell behind 5-0 early to FIU, but the Ospreys rallied and the bullpen secured the 10-8 victory on Wednesday afternoon at the FIU Baseball Stadium. The Ospreys (12-5) and Panthers (8-7) split the two game series.
 
The Ospreys surrendered five runs in the bottom of the second inning to fall behind early, but UNF chipped away with two runs in the third, one run in the fourth, four runs in the sixth and a run in the eighth to tie the game at 8-8. Heading into the ninth inning, tied 8-8, North Florida plated a pair of runs to take a 10-8 lead that the bullpen would not relinquish.
 
Bryan Mathews earned his first collegiate victory, tossing the final 2.2 innings. The true freshman did not allow a hit or a walk en route to the victory, recording a strikeout. Mathews entered the game in relief of redshirt freshman Jamie Cardwell, who threw a season-high 3.2 innings of relief. Cardwell surrendered a pair of runs on five hits. He walked three, but also recorded a strikeout. Starter Evan Incinelli earned a no decision. In his first collegiate start, the freshman scattered seven hits, allowing five earned runs. Incinelli was hurt by two walks and two hit batters.
 
Offensively, the Ospreys registered 12 hits. North Florida had four batters record multiple hits in the game, led by Joe Wielbruda who finished the day with four. The junior college transfer finished the day 4-for-6 with a run scored and a team-best three RBI. Garrick Ferguson, Paul Karmeris and Michael Wesner each had two hits apiece in the game. P. Karmeris and Alex Bacon each had doubles in the game, while Ferguson hit his second home run of the season. P. Karmeris scored a team-high three runs, while Ferguson and Joe Iorio both had two runs apiece. 

FIU was the first team to scratch the scoreboard, plating five runs in the bottom of the second inning. The leadoff batter reached base with a single to right center field, but was caught trying to steal second base. After a walk, FIU used a base hit to give the hosts a pair of base runners. The Panthers plated the first runner of the game with a single combined with an error out in left field. An RBI groundout scored the second run of the inning. Following a walk, the Panthers used a triple to score two more runs. FIU scored the final run of the inning on an RBI single, taking an early 5-0 lead.
 
North Florida chipped away at the FIU lead in the top of the third. P. Karmeris led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Wielbruda drove in the first Osprey run of the day with an RBI single up the middle. Wielbruda moved into scoring position on a wild pitch by the Panthers and a ground out moved the junior to within 90 feet of home. Wesner delivered a two-out RBI single to left field to score Wielbruda and trim the deficit to 5-2.
 
The Panthers responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. A leadoff double and a wild pitch placed a FIU base runner on third with no outs. The Ospreys made a spectacular defensive play as a fly ball to center field was caught by Bacon, who quickly threw home in time to double up the runner. With two outs, the Panthers extended the inning as the next batter was hit by a pitch. After a pitching change, FIU used a double to put a pair of base runners in scoring position. A single scored the lead runner. The Panthers loaded the bases with a walk and plated the second run of the inning with an infield single to push the lead back to five runs, 7-2.
 
The Ospreys got a run back in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, Iorio reached base on a throwing error by FIU. Andrew Karmeris followed with a walk and Wielbruda drove home Iorio with an RBI single to right center.
 
Trailing 7-3, UNF tied the game with four runs in the top of the sixth inning. Ferguson led off the inning with his second home run of the season.  With one out, Iorio walked and P. Karmeris followed with a single through the left side of the infield. The Ospreys loaded the bases as A. Karmeris was hit by a pitch. The runners each moved up a base on a wild pitch by the Panthers, scoring Iorio from third. Tyler Marincov reached base on a throwing error by FIU, allowing P. Karmeris to score on the play. The final run of the inning came across on a second wild pitch of the inning, scoring A. Karmeris and tying the score at 7-7.
 
FIU regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Panthers led off the inning with a double to right field. The home team moved the runner into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. FIU used a safety squeeze to score the runner on third and retake the lead at 8-7.
 
In the top of the eighth inning, North Florida tied the game for the second time. With one out, P. Karmeris drew a walk and advanced to second on a Wielbruda single to first base. A. Karmeris drove home his brother with an RBI single up the middle, knotting the score at 8-8.
 
The Ospreys took their first lead of the game in the top of the ninth inning. Wesner led off the inning with a single to right field. With one out, Ferguson reached base on a bunt single to third base. Bacon extended the inning with walk to load the bases. P. Karmeris drew a two-out walk to give the Ospreys a 9-8 advantage. Wielbruda singled to the shortstop to score Ferguson from third and give UNF a 10-8 advantage.
 
The UNF defense stood strong in the bottom of the ninth inning. Mathews induced a fly ball to right field for the first out of the inning. A major league pop up to Wesner at first base placed the Ospreys one out away from victory. Mathews caused a ground ball to A. Karmeris at third base for the final out of the game, preserving the two-run win.
 
North Florida continues its seven-day road trip with a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference series against Florida Gulf Coast beginning on Friday, March 16 in Fort Myers, Fla. The weekend series will serve as the A-Sun opener for both teams. Live stats and in-game Twitter (@UNFOspreys) updates will be available.