Boxscore
 
KENNESAW, Ga. – The University of North Florida baseball team dropped the opening game of a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference series with Kennesaw State, 5-1, on Friday night at Stillwell Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga. The Ospreys and Owls waited out a two-hour weather delay prior to the game and a 26 minute delay in the fifth inning.
 
Offensively, the Ospreys collected just five hits with a pair the hits going for extra bases. T.J. Gavlik and Paul Karmeris each had doubles in the game. Ryan Roberson, Michael Wesner and Joe Wielbruda each added hits in the game. P. Karmeris drove home the only run scored in the game, scoring Wielbruda.
 
Kyle Westwood took the loss for the Ospreys. The junior worked 5.1 innings, allowing four runs. The right-hander struck out five batters while walking just one. Westwood gave way in the sixth inning to Evan Stermer. The lefty tossed 1.2 innings of work, allowing a walk and striking out two. Stermer did not surrender a hit in his outing, but was charged with a run. Chandler Jagodzinski closed out the game, throwing the final inning. The senior surrendered a pair of hits, but did not allow a run or a walk, striking out two.
 
North Florida was the first team to score, plating a run in the top of the first inning. Wielbruda reached base on an infield single to second base. He advanced to third as a failed pickoff attempt got away from the first base man. Wielbruda put the Ospreys in front 1-0 on an RBI ground out by P. Karmeris.
 
Kennesaw State responded in the bottom of the second inning. With a runner on first base after a walk, the Owls' Will Howard hit a two-run home run to right field to put the hosts in front 2-1 after two complete innings of play.
 
The Owls added a run in the bottom of the third inning. KSU placed a runner on second base with a double. The runner advanced to third on a ground out. With one out, a fly ball to left field looked to be the second out of the inning, but a fielding error by the Ospreys allowed the hitter to reach base. On the play, the runner from third scored on the sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to 3-1. With a runner on first base, the next KSU batter hit into an inning-ending double play to end the threat.
 
The game was delayed for the second time with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning. Rain began to fall hard in the bottom of the fifth inning, prompting a 26-minute weather delay. The tarp was pulled onto the field, but was almost immediately removed as the front moved quickly through the area.
 
When the game resumed, the Owls extended their lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. The runner that was on first prior to the delay stole second base to move into scoring position. A double into the right field corner scored the runner and pushed the hosts' advantage to 4-1.
 
KSU added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning. The inning began with a walk and a single up the middle gave the Owls a pair of base runners. Kennesaw State was able to score the lead runner with an RBI single to right field to take a 5-1 advantage they would not relinquish.
 
North Florida and Kennesaw State continue the series with a single game on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at Stillwell Stadium. Live stats and in-game Tweets (@UNFOspreys) will be available.