Game 1 Boxscore | Game 2 Boxscore
 
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team split a doubleheader with USC Upstate on Sunday afternoon at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium. The Spartans (18-5, 5-1 Atlantic Sun) claimed game one, 14-8, with the Ospreys (16-9, 2-4 A-Sun) winning game two, 4-1.
 
Offensively, North Florida recorded 19 hits on the day including seven extra base hits. Alex Bacon, Andrew Karmeris and Michael Wesner each hit home runs on the day, while Joe Iorio, A. Karmeris, Paul Karmeris and Drew Weeks each added doubles during the twin bill.
 
Six different North Florida batters finished the day with multiple hits, including three hits apiece by Bacon, P. Karmeris, Weeks and Joe Wielbruda. Bacon led all hitters with three runs scored, while Wielbruda paced the team with three runs batted in.
 
On the mound, Tommy Organ picked up his second win of the season, tossing a complete game – 7.0 innings – in game two. The southpaw scattered three hits – all singles – allowing one run. Organ fanned six batters in his outing while walking just a pair.
 
In game one, Michael Renner earned the start. The junior worked 2.2 innings, scattering eight hits – all singles. Renner allowed five runs with only four earned runs. He walked a batter and struck out one. He gave way to Nick Allbritton who tossed a career-best 4.1 innings. He allowed just two hits with a pair of strikeouts and a walk. Allbritton was charged with the loss allowing three unearned runs. Tyler Moore surrendered a pair of unearned runs on two hits and a walk with a strikeout. Bryan Mathews finished out the game for North Florida. He scattered three hits in 1.1 innings of work. Mathews surrendered four runs, but only two earned runs.
 
GAME 1 RECAP
The story of game one proved to be errors, as four North Florida miscues led to eight unearned runs.
 
North Florida was the first team to score a run, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs, A. Karmeris put the Ospreys in front with one swing of the bat. The senior hit his first home run of the season – a solo shot to center field. The home run was the 24th of his career and tied him for 10th all-time in the North Florida career records with Justin Preckajlo (2010-11).
 
USC Upstate responded with two runs in the top of the second inning and three in the top of the third. The Spartans manufactured two runs on four hits and an error by the Ospreys in the second inning. The visitors added three runs on four hits in the top of the third inning. All eight hits in the two innings were singles.
 
The Ospreys used a two-out rally in the bottom of the third inning to cut into the Spartans lead. With two outs, Wielbruda singled up the middle to start things off for North Florida. A. Karmeris was hit by a pitch to give UNF a pair of base runners. Tyler Marincov worked a full count before loading the bases with a walk. Ryan Roberson stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and the sophomore collected a base hit up the middle to score Wielbruda and A. Karmeris to cut into the deficit to 5-3.
 
UNF took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Bacon led off the inning with a solo home run to left field. The homer was his fourth of the season and closed the gap to just one run. With one out, Iorio doubled down the left field line. P. Karmeris followed with a double to score Iorio and tie the score. P. Karmeris advanced to third on a fly ball. A. Karmeris drove home his brother with an RBI double up the middle to give the Ospreys the lead at 6-5.
 
The score remained 6-5 until the Spartans broke the game open with five unearned runs in the top of the eighth inning. USC Upstate used three hits, including a double – their only extra base hit of the day – and three errors by North Florida to take the lead the Spartans would not relinquish. Upstate added four additional runs in the top of the ninth innings on three hits and a fourth error by the Ospreys.
 
North Florida mounted a comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning. Weeks and Bacon led off the inning with back-to-back singles. A deep fly ball allowed the two runners to advance into scoring position. T.J. Gavlik drew a walk to load the bases. With two outs, Wielbruda singled to left field to score Weeks and Bacon. The rally fell short as a strikeout ended the game.
 
GAME 2 RECAP
In game two, the Ospreys jumped out in front in the top of the second inning. Wesner led off the inning with a solo home run to right center field. The senior lifted the first pitch he saw over the right center field fence for his second home run of the season. Weeks followed with a single to right field. A throwing error by the Spartans extended the inning and left UNF with runners on the corners. With one out, Gavlik reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Weeks to score from third and extend the Ospreys' lead to 2-0.
 
The Spartans cut the Ospreys' lead in half with a run in the top of the fourth inning. The leadoff batter singled to third base to start the inning. He stole second base to move into scoring position. The runner moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. A single to right center field scored the runner from third.
 
North Florida responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Bacon singled up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Gavlik. A fly ball moved Bacon to within 90 feet from home. Wielbruda singled through the right side to score Bacon and extend the UNF lead to 3-1.
 
The Ospreys added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Marincov singled up the middle to start the inning. The sophomore stole second and third to move into scoring position. Weeks drove home Marincov with a sacrifice fly to left field to give North Florida a 4-1 lead they would not surrender.
 
North Florida finishes off its six-game home stand with a midweek game against Florida A&M on Tuesday, March 27, at 6:00 p.m. at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium. Live stats, ASun.TV and in-game Tweets (@UNFOspreys) will be available during the game.