Bats Come Alive as Ospreys Earn Pair of Victories

Friday, March 1

Jacksonville, Fla.

3:00 p.m.

University of North Florida

7-2

Jacksonville State

3-8

Jacksonville State

North Florida

Photo by: Todd Drexler

3/1/2013 10:22:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: North Florida Athletics

Boxscore (Game 1) | Boxscore (Game 2)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team collected 31 total hits in two games on the day and came away with a pair of victories on Friday, Mar. 1 at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium. The Ospreys opened the day with a 7-3 victory over Jacksonville State and followed that with a win against Charleston Southern, 10-5.

The Ospreys offense scored seven runs on 14 hits in the first game and followed with 10 runs on 17 hits in game two. The 10 runs marked the first time this season UNF notched double-digit runs. The Ospreys recorded seven extra base hits on the day, including a home run, a triple and five doubles. Five players had multiple hits in the first game, while seven players notched multiple hits in game two.

Drew Weeks finished the day 5-for-10 with a double, a home run, three runs scored and two RBI. He led the team with a .900 slugging percentage and boasted a .545 on-base percentage. Kyle Brooks led the team with a .714 batting average on the day. In two games, Brooks finished 5-for-7 with three runs scored and two RBI. The freshman also added a walk and a hit by pitch for a .778 on-base percentage.

Peyton Walsh was perfect in game one, going 3-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI in his first start in a North Florida uniform. Joe Wielbruda had three hits in the second game, adding a pair of runs and two RBI.

On the mound, the North Florida pitchers also had a solid day. As a team, the Ospreys pitchers had a 4.00 earned run average compared to an 8.44 ERA by Jacksonville State and Charleston Southern. North Florida recorded 15 strikeouts as a team, paced by starting pitcher Kyle Westwood's seven. Starter Tommy Organ also added four strikeouts in the first game. Both Westwood and Organ earned their first victory of the season on the day.

Game 1 Recap
Leading 2-0 over Jacksonville State with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, North Florida broke the game open with five runs and cruised to the victory.

In the pivotal fourth inning, Paul Karmeris singled to center field. He advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Brooks followed with a walk and P. Karmeris stole third. Walsh singled to left field to score P. Karmeris from third and leave the Ospreys with runners on the corners. Wielbruda delivered an RBI single through the left side of the infield. Weeks scored Walsh from second base with an RBI single. After a pitching change, Ryan Roberson delivered a two-out two-RBI double down the left field line to score the final two runs of the inning and give UNF a 7-0 advantage.

The Gamecocks scored runs in the final three innings, but the Ospreys were able to thwart any possible comeback attempt and come away with the 7-3 victory.

Game 2 Recap
In the second game of the day, the Ospreys scored a season-best 10 runs en route to a 10-5 victory. North Florida scored runs in six innings, including four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 9-1 lead and control of the game.

North Florida scored a run in both the first and second innings, while posting two runs in the third. The Ospreys added a run in the fourth inning as Weeks hit his first home run of the season and the second of his North Florida career.

The Ospreys batted around in the fifth inning, scoring four runs on four hits and a Charleston Southern error. P. Karmeris led off the inning with a single to left field. Alex Bacon followed with an RBI double to left field, advancing to third on the throw home. A fielding error allowed Brooks to reach base safely and advance all the way to second base. On the play, Bacon came in to score from third. Brooks advanced to third on a Corey Bass sacrifice bunt. Wielbruda singled to score Brooks and Weeks followed with a walk. Wielbruda came home to score the final run of the inning on a Roberson single through the left side of the infield.

Charleston Southern scored four runs on four hits in the top of the seventh inning, but the Ospreys were able to withstand the barrage for their second win of the day.

The Ospreys improved to 8-2 on the season, the best start for North Florida since 2002 when UNF opened the year 11-2. The 8-2 start is the best for North Florida since turning Division I in 2006.

North Florida will play Jacksonville State and Charleston Southern once again in a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. The Ospreys and Gamecocks square off at 1:00 p.m. with the Ospreys and Buccaneers following at approximately 3:30 p.m.