Boxscore
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team left seven runners on base including four runners in scoring position, including three the first three innings, as the Ospreys dropped a 6-1 decision to Lipscomb on Friday night at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.
Starting pitcher
Michael Renner was saddled with the loss. The southpaw worked 7.1 innings, surrendering nine hits. Renner was charged with three runs, but only one earned run. The junior did not allow a walk and struck out three.
Renner gave way to
Chandler Jagodzinski. The senior threw 1.0 innings, allowing three runs on four hits. He did not allow a walk and registered a strikeout.
Jamie Cardwell hurled the final 0.2 innings without allowing a hit or a run while boasting a strikeout.
Offensively, the Ospreys recorded four hits on the night.
T.J. Gavlik led all UNF players with a pair of base hits.
Andrew Karmeris had a hit and an RBI.
Joe Wielbruda also added a hit, while
Corey Bass scored the Ospreys' only run.
Lipscomb's Connor Sinclair earned the victory, tossing a complete game. The right-hander allowed a run on four hits in 9.0 innings of work. Sinclair walked two and struck out six.
North Florida threatened in the first inning. Gavlik and A. Karmeris led off the game with back-to-back singles.
Michael Wesner laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. The Ospreys failed to score as a strikeout and a ground out ended the inning, stranding the runners in scoring position.
In the third inning, Gavlik led off the inning with a single through the right side of the infield. A. Karmeris reached base on a fielding error that left UNF with runners on the corners. Wesner hit a ground ball to first base, but the Bisons went home with the throw to eliminate Gavlik as he tried to score from third. A second fielder's choice in the inning left the Ospreys with runners on the corners, but a strikeout ended the inning and the UNF threat.
Lipscomb broke the scoreless tie with a run in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, the Bisons used a double to put a runner in scoring position. LU used a single up the middle to score the runner from second base, but the UNF defense was able to end the inning as the trail runner tried to advance to second base on the play.
The Bisons added a pair of unearned runs in the top of the eighth inning. The leadoff batter singled up the middle to start the inning. The next batter attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner into scoring position but a throwing error left Lipscomb with two runners on base and no outs. LU's next batter followed with a successful sacrifice bunt to move the two runners into scoring position. After a pitching change, a fielding error continued the inning, allowing the lead runner to score. With runners on the corners, the runner on first stole second. On the play, the throw to second base went into the outfield, allowing the runner on third to advance home safely. The Ospreys escaped the inning with no further damage with a foul out and a strikeout, but trailed 3-0.
The Ospreys scored a run in the bottom of the eighth inning without the benefit of a base hit. Bass led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Back-to-back groundouts moved Bass to third and then home, cutting the deficit to 3-1. Bass' walk broke a string of 15 consecutive retired by Lipscomb's starting pitcher.
In the ninth inning, Lipscomb added three insurance runs on four hits and a North Florida error to secure the 6-1 victory. LU's Zach Lowery hit a solo home run to highlight the inning for the Bisons. For the Ospreys in the ninth,
Alex Bacon walked and Wielbruda was hit by a pitch to give UNF a pair of base runners with two outs, but the rally was thwarted as a fielder's choice ended the game.
North Florida and Lipscomb continue the three-game series with a single game Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium. Live stats, ASun.TV, live audio and in-game Tweets (@UNFOspreys) will be available for the game.
