Boxscore
 
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Trailing 3-0 to The Citadel, the University of North Florida baseball team rallied to score three runs in the final two innings of regulation to force extra innings. However, the Ospreys were unable to score and allowed the Bulldogs to score three runs in the 11th inning to win the opening game of a three-game series 6-3 on Friday night at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.
 
Down three heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, the Ospreys were able to score a run on a pair of hits and a RBI groundout to trim the deficit to just a pair. North Florida was able to knot the score in the bottom of the ninth with a pair of runs. In the ninth, the Ospreys were aided by a throwing error by the Bulldogs. With a runner on first and second, the Ospreys attempted to advance the runners with a sacrifice bunt. The Citadel's third baseman threw the ball away trying to record the out allowing North Florida to tie the score at 3-3 and force extra innings.
 
The Citadel benefited from some Osprey miscues, scoring three runs on one hit in the top of the 11th inning. In the inning, UNF hit three batters and walked a runner with the bases loaded. North Florida led off the bottom of the inning with a base hit, but was unable to generate any runs to continue or win the game.
 
Offensively, the Ospreys scored three runs on 11 hits. Tyler Marincov, Ryan Roberson and Joe Wielbruda each had a pair of hits on the night. Kyle Brooks, Paul Karmeris and Wielbruda each scored a run apiece, while Corbin Olmstead drove in the only RBI for the Ospreys.
 
On the mound, North Florida used four pitchers on the night.
 
Tommy Organ earned the start. The senior scattered six hits in 5.2 innings of work. The southpaw allowed three runs earning a no-decision. Organ surrendered a pair of walks, while striking out a season-best seven batters. In two outings against The Citadel, Organ has worked 11.1 innings, striking out 16 batters.
 
Ryan McMahon saw his first action of the season, tossing 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. The hurler surrendered one hit and no walks, while striking out a batter. He was relieved by Jamie Cardwell who took the loss for the Ospreys. Cardwell was charged with three runs, although just one run was earned. The lefty scattered four hits in his 3.0 innings of relief. Cardwell struck out a batter without a walk, but did hit a pair of batters with pitches. Evan Incinelli recorded the final two outs of the game for North Florida. He worked 0.2 innings of relief striking out a batter, walking one and hitting a pair of batters with pitches.
 
The Citadel jumped out to an early lead, plating a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. The Bulldogs were able to manufacture two runs on three hits, including an RBI double. In the inning, Organ posted three strikeouts.
 
Organ and the North Florida defense managed to keep the Bulldogs off of the scoreboard until the top of the sixth inning. The Citadel started the inning with a hit batter and a single. The Bulldogs used a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly to score the lead runner and take a 3-0 lead. McMahon, who entered the game to pitch in the sixth inning, struck out the final batter of the inning to limit The Citadel to just one run.
 
In the eighth inning, North Florida used a one-out single by Wielbruda to get things started. He advanced to second base on a wild pitch by the Bulldogs. Roberson followed with a single to right field, leaving the Ospreys runners on the corners. Olmstead drove home Wielbruda, reaching base on an RBI fielder's choice.
 
Trailing by two in the bottom of the ninth inning, P. Karmeris led off the inning with a walk. Nick Karmeris entered the game to pinch hit and delivered a single through the right side of the infield. Brooks came in to pinch run for N. Karmeris. Corey Bass attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. On the play, The Citadel third baseman threw the ball down the right field line allowing P. Karmeris and Brooks to score and tie the game at 3-3. Back-to-back groundouts left the Ospreys with a runner on third and two outs. The Citadel intentionally walked Wielbruda and Roberson to load the bases, but a strikeout ended the inning and forced extras.
 
Neither team was able to score in the 10th inning. In the 11th inning, the Bulldogs used three hit batters, a bases loaded walk and an error to score three runs to take a 6-3 lead, which the Ospreys could not match.
 
North Florida and The Citadel continue the three-game series with a game on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.