Boxscore
 
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team recorded 11 hits on the day, but was only able to score four runs, as the Ospreys dropped a 7-4 decision to Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday afternoon at Swanson Stadium. The win improves FGCU to 8-10 overall and 2-0 in Atlantic Sun Conference play, while UNF drops to 12-8 overall and 0-2 in the league.
 
Offensively, North Florida out-hit Florida Gulf Coast 11-to-8, but the Ospreys were hindered by timely hits, leaving 11 runners on base. Joe Wielbruda led UNF with three hits and two runs scored, finishing the day 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Ryan Roberson and Garrick Ferguson each had two hits on the day with Roberson driving in a team-best two runs. Paul Karmeris, Wielbruda and Roberson each finished the day with a double.
 
On the mound, Michael Renner took the loss for the Ospreys. The junior college transfer scattered seven hits over 6.2 innings of work. Renner was charged with seven runs, but only four earned runs as UNF committed three errors on the day. The southpaw struck out six batters, but issued three walks.
 
Nick Allbritton entered the game in relief of Renner. The transfer worked 1.1 innings allowing no runs on just one hit. He struck out two batters, while walking two and hitting one.
 
North Florida wasted little time scratching the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the first inning. P. Karmeris led off the game with a double off of the left field wall. He came around to score as Wielbruda followed with a double to right center field, giving the Ospreys their first lead of the series. A passed ball moved Wielbruda to third and Roberson scored Wielbruda with a RBI double down the left field line, giving UNF an early 2-0 lead.
 
Florida Gulf Coast tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. The first batter of the inning struck out swinging, but a wild pitch allowed the batter to reach base safely. The next batter of the inning used a fielding error by the Ospreys to reach base safely. The two base runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt to both move into scoring position. Renner struck out the next batter, but a two-RBI single knot the score at 2-2.
 
The Ospreys regained the lead in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Tyler Marincov singled up the middle and stole second base to move into scoring position. Roberson followed with a single up the middle to score Marincov. The RBI single gave UNF a 3-2 lead and was the second RBI of the game for Roberson.
 
The Eagles responded in the bottom of the inning, tying the score at 3-3. FGCU used a one-out single for the first base runner of the inning. The home team tied the score with an RBI double into the left field corner. The Ospreys were able to limit the damage and end the inning tied.
 
FGCU took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Eagles used back-to-back walks and a bunt single to load the bases with no outs. The hosts scored two runs on a single and a fielding error by the Ospreys. The two runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly gave FGCU a 6-3 advantage.
 
Florida Gulf Coast added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning. With two outs, a single through the right side gave the Eagles a base runner. FGCU earned a second base runner as the next batter of the inning was hit by a pitch following a pitching change. The Ospreys struck out the next batter, but a throwing error allowed the base runner to reach safely and load the bases. Florida Gulf Coast singled through the right side of the infield to score the lead runner, but Marincov threw out the next runner who tried to score from second to end the inning with UNF down 7-3.
 
In the ninth inning, the Ospreys tried to mount a comeback. Wielbruda led off the inning with an infield single to second base. He advanced to third base as Andrew Karmeris reached base on a fielding error by the Eagles. Wielbruda came home to pull UNF to within three on a sacrifice fly by Marincov. A. Karmeris advanced into scoring position on a ground out, but was unable to come around and score as a strikeout ended the game.
 
North Florida and Florida Gulf Coast conclude the three-game Atlantic Sun Conference series with a game at 1:00 p.m. at Swanson Stadium on Sunday. Live Stats and in-game tweets (@UNFOspreys) will be available during the game.