Errors Cost Ospreys in Opener with Belmont

Friday, May 4

Nashville, Tenn.

6 p.m.

University of North Florida

26-20, 7-12

Belmont

29-17, 13-6

North Florida

Belmont

5/4/2012 8:19:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

Boxscore

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The University of North Florida baseball team allowed five unearned runs on a pair of costly errors to drop the opening game of a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference series with Belmont 6-1 at E.S. Rose Park in Nashville, Tenn.

Starting pitcher Michael Renner took the hard-luck loss for the Ospreys. The southpaw was charged with six runs with only one earned run allowed. Renner threw a season-best 8.0 innings scattering eight hits with only a pair of extra base hits. The junior struck out five batters while allowing only one free pass. Renner threw just over 100 pitches in the game, but threw 22 extra pitches because of the errors.

Offensively, North Florida recorded five hits on the night. Ryan Roberson and Joe Wielbruda each had a pair of hits on the night with Drew Weeks adding a hit. Weeks' hit was the biggest of the night for UNF. The true freshman recorded his first collegiate home run in the game. Roberson added a double and an infield single, while Wielbruda was credited with a pair of infield singles.

North Florida was the first team to score, plating a run in the top of the second inning. With two outs, Weeks hit his first collegiate home run. The freshman hit an opposite field solo home run to put the Ospreys in front 1-0.

Belmont responded with four runs with help from the UNF defense. The leadoff batter doubled to right field, but the Ospreys were able to retire the runner as he rounded second too wide and the throw in from right was able to catch the runner out at second base. Back-to-back singles gave the Bruins runners on first and second and a fly ball to center field left the hosts with runners on the corners and two outs. The next batter hit a ball to shortstop, but the throw was off the mark allowing the first run of the inning to score and leaving the Bruins with a pair of base runners on base. A pair of singles around a walk allowed Belmont to score three additional runs to give the home team a 4-1 advantage.

The Bruins took advantage of a second UNF error in the bottom of the fifth inning. The leadoff batter reached base on a throwing error by the Ospreys. The runner advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt back to Renner. Belmont's Matt Beaty increased the Bruins' lead with a two-run home run to right field. UNF used a groundout and a strikeout to end the inning without further damage. Only one of the runs on the home run was earned, but the two-run shot put North Florida behind 6-1 after five complete.

Neither team was able to score in the final half of the game as both team's pitchers went the distance. The Ospreys placed a pair of base runners on the base paths in the top of the ninth inning, but the runners were left stranded.

North Florida and Belmont continue the three-game Atlantic Sun Conference Series with a single game Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. (ET). Live stats, live audio and in-game Tweets (@UNFOspreys) will be available throughout the game.