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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team went toe-to-toe with the No. 5 Florida Gators on Tuesday night at McKethan Stadium, but the Ospreys were edged 4-3 in 11 innings.
 
The two teams matched each other throughout the entire night. Florida finished the night with four runs on 14 hits with a pair of errors, while North Florida notched three runs on 13 hits with an error. The two teams each scored one run in the second and third. UF took a one run lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, but UNF matched the run in the top of the eighth to force extra innings.
 
Offensively, five different Osprey hitters recorded multiple hits in the game, led by Alex Bacon. The sophomore finished the game 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, two RBI and a run scored. T.J. Gavlik, Tyler Marincov, Ryan Roberson and Joe Wielbruda each had two hits apiece in the game with Gavlik and Marincov each scoring runs. Marincov provided UNF's third RBI.
 
The two teams combined to use 13 pitchers with North Florida using seven arms compared to six by Florida. Tommy Organ earned the start, allowing a pair of runs in three innings of work. Nick Allbritton surrendered a run in 2.0 innings of relief. Spencer Herrmann, Evan Stermer, Chandler Jagodzinski and Jamie Cardwell combined for the next 4.1 scoreless innings. Andrew Karmeris took the hard-luck loss in relief. The senior surrendered one run on a pair of hits.
 
North Florida was the first team to score, plating a run in the top of the second inning. With one out, Bacon lifted a solo home run in to the left center field seats. The home run was Bacon's sixth of the season and the 15th of his career. Fifteen home runs ties Bacon with Sam Perry (2008-11) for fifth most in UNF's Division I history.
 
Florida tied the game in the bottom of the second inning. The leadoff batter singled through the right side of the infield to start off the inning. He was eliminated on a fielder's choice. The runner at first stole second base and advanced to third on a ground out. The Gators used a RBI double down the left field line to knot the score at 1-1.
 
The Ospreys regained the lead in the top of the third inning. Gavlik opened the stanza with a single up the middle. Wielbruda advanced Gavlik to second with a well-placed sacrifice bunt. A fly ball moved Gavlik to within 90 feet of home. With two outs, Marincov singled through the left side of the infield to place the Ospreys in front, 2-1.
 
The Gators responded with a run in the bottom of the third inning, tying the score for the second time. UF benefited from a one-out infield single to third base. A fielder's choice eliminated the lead runner, but left the Gators with a runner on first and two outs. Florida hit its second RBI double of the night to tie the score at 2-2.
 
Florida took their first lead of the night with a solo home run by Nolan Fontana. The junior led off the bottom of the fifth inning with his ninth home run of the season to put the home team in front 3-2.
 
North Florida tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the eighth inning. Marincov led off the inning with an infield single. He stole second to move into scoring position. Bacon followed with a one-out RBI double down the left field line.
 
Neither team was able to score in regulation, sending the game into extra innings. The game was the second extra inning contest of the year for the Ospreys and the third for the Gators.
 
The game remained tied until the bottom of the 11th inning. The Gators used a leadoff single and a game-winning RBI double by All-American Mike Zunino to win the game in walk-off fashion.
 
North Florida heads to Macon, Ga. for a pivotal Atlantic Sun Conference series with Mercer over the weekend. Live stats and in-game Tweets (@UNFOspreys) will be available throughout the games.