Boxscore
 
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team fell behind 7-2 early against East Tennessee State, but despite a valiant effort, the Ospreys were unable to complete the comeback, falling to the Bucs 7-5 on Friday night at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium. The rubber match between the two teams is slated for Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
 
On the night the Ospreys surrendered seven runs in the first three innings. UNF fell behind 5-0 in the first inning, but scored a pair of runs to keep the game close. ETSU responded with two unearned runs in the top of the third to push the lead back to five. North Florida chipped away with a run in the bottom of the third and a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh, but could get no closer as the Ospreys dropped a two-run decision.
 
Nick Allbritton earned the start for the Ospreys. The senior scattered 11 hits in 6.1 innings of work. He walked a pair of batter, but struck out a career-high five batters on the night. After struggling in the first inning, Allbritton did not allow an earned run over the next 5.2 innings of play.
 
Jamie Cardwell entered the game in relief of Allbritton. The sophomore worked the final 2.2 innings allowing just one hit. He surrendered a pair of walks, but recorded a career-best four strikeouts to keep the game close.
 
Offensively, the Ospreys recorded 11 hits in the game with five different batters notching multiple hits. Joe Wielbruda led the team with three hits, while Donnie Dewees, Paul Karmeris, Ryan Roberson and Drew Weeks each had two hits apiece. P. Karmeris and Roberson each boasted a double each in the contest.
 
ETSU was the first team to score, jumping out to an early 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Bucs led off the game with a bunt single. With one out, Clinton Freeman doubled to right field to give ETSU a pair of base runners in scoring position. The first run of the game came across on a RBI single to center field. A hit by pitch loaded the bases and an infield single to first base plated the second run of the game. With the bases loaded and one out, Chris Riopedre delivered a two-RBI single to give the visitors a 4-0 advantage. ETSU scored the final run of the inning on a fielder's choice and UNF ended the inning with a pickoff at first base, trailing 5-0.
 
North Florida chipped into the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. Wielbruda led off the inning with a bloop single to right field. P. Karmeris doubled down the left field line, scoring Wielbruda. P. Karmeris advanced to third on a groundout and came around to score on a Dewees single to right field. The Ospreys would be unable to inch closer in the inning as a double play ended the inning, leaving the score 5-2 in favor of ETSU.
 
The Bucs added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the third inning. With one out, ETSU used a single and a two-base error to place runners on second and third with just one out. The Ospreys induced a foul out to third base for the second out of the inning, but a walk loaded the bases. The Buccaneers used a two-RBI single to score a pair of unearned runs and push the advantage to 7-2.
 
The Ospreys got a run back in the bottom of the third inning. Tyler Marincov reached base on a fielding error by the ETSU shortstop with one out in the inning. Roberson brought home Marincov with a two-out double down the left field line, trimming the deficit to 7-3.
 
The game remained 7-3 until the bottom of the seventh inning. Wielbruda led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a P. Karmeris base hit. Wielbruda advanced to third on a deep fly ball to right field. P. Karmeris moved into scoring position with a stolen base. Dewees plated the lead runner with a sacrifice fly to center field. On the play, P. Karmeris was able to advance to within 90 feet of home. With a runner on third and two outs, Roberson singled to right field to score P. Karmeris and cut the ETSU lead to 7-5.
 
Cardwell kept the Ospreys within striking distance. The sophomore walked a pair of batters in the top of the eighth inning. Corey Bass picked off the lead runner to record the first out of the inning and Cardwell fanned the final two batters of the inning. After surrendering a leadoff single in the ninth, Cardwell used a strikeout and a double play to post a 1-2-3 inning and keep the deficit to within two.
 
Offensively, the Ospreys were unable to muster any offense in the final two innings of play, dropping the two-run decision.
 
North Florida and ETSU conclude the series with the rubber match on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.  Live stats, live audio, live video and in-game tweets (@OspreyBSB) will be available throughout the game.