Boxscore
 
MOBILE, Ala. – The University of North Florida baseball team played even with the University of South Alabama for the first eight innings, but came up just short as the Jaguars used a ninth inning run to claim a 6-5 walk-off victory. With the game tied 5-5 and one out in the bottom of the ninth, USA used a double to place the game-winning run in scoring position with a double down the right field line. The home team used a hit-and-run to score the runner on a base hit to left field and claim the win in the opening game of a three-game series with the Ospreys at Eddie Stanky Field in Mobile, Ala.
 
On the night, North Florida scored five runs on seven hits, including three extra base hits. Tyler Marincov paced the UNF offense, finishing the night 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two runs batted in, a home run and a double. Joe Wielbruda notched a double and drove in two runs, while Paul Karmeris scored a pair of runs.
 
On the mound, the Ospreys used a pair of pitchers on the night. Tommy Organ earned the start. The southpaw scattered eight hits in 5.2 innings of work. Organ surrendered four runs with a pair of walks and a strikeout. He gave way to David Trexler in the sixth inning. The junior transfer allowed two runs – one earned run – on three hits in 2.2 innings. Trexler, who took the hard-luck loss, walked two and struck out two.
 
North Florida took an early lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Drew Weeks singled with one out to get things going for the Ospreys. Marincov put North Florida on the scoreboard with a two-run home run to left field.
 
The home run was Marincov's second of the season and the 16th of his career. Marincov is now tied with Alex Bacon for fifth in North Florida's Division I records for career home runs. The duo is each three shy of T.J. Thompson (2007-11) for fourth with 19.
 
The Ospreys added a run in the top of the second inning. P. Karmeris reached base on a fielding error by the USA third baseman. Corey Bass and Bacon each followed with walks to load the bases for UNF. With one out, Wielbruda drove a ball deep to center field. P. Karmeris was able to score on the sacrifice fly and push the lead up to 3-0.
 
South Alabama scored a run in the bottom of the second inning to trim the North Florida advantage to 3-1. The Jaguars led off the inning with back-to-back singles. The home team had runners on the corners with one out after a fielder's choice. The Jaguars loaded the bases on a hit by pitch. South Alabama scratched the scoreboard with an RBI single through the left side of the infield. The Ospreys ended the inning and the Jaguars' threat with a double play.
 
North Florida regained its three run advantage with a run in the top of the third inning. Marincov led off the inning with a double to left center field. He stole third to move to within 90 feet of home. Ryan Roberson singled to left field to score Marincov from third and extend the UNF advantage to 4-1.
 
The Jaguars knotted the score in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, the home team used a walk to put a runner on first base. The runner advanced to second on a balk by the Ospreys. A single gave the Jaguars runners on the corners. An RBI single pulled South Alabama to within two of North Florida at 4-2. The Jaguars used a sacrifice bunt to move both base runners into scoring position. The move paid off as the next batter singled home both runners to tie the game at 4-4.
 
The Ospreys regained the lead with a run in the top of the sixth inning. P. Karmeris led off the inning with a walk. Bass advanced P. Karmeris to second with a sacrifice bunt. He moved to third base on a deep fly ball to center field. After a walk to Kyle Brooks, P. Karmeris came around to score on a Joe Wielbruda double to right center field, giving North Florida a 5-4 edge.
 
South Alabama responded with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Jaguars led off the inning with a walk. USA attempted to bunt the runner up a base. The bunt was popped up and caught by the Ospreys. In an attempt to try to double up the base runner, North Florida threw the ball away, allowing the runner to advance to third. With a runner on third and one out, the Jaguars used a RBI single to tie the game at 5-5. The Ospreys were able to prevent the Jaguars from taking the lead and entered the top of the eighth inning tied at five.
 
The game remained 5-5 until the decisive bottom half of the ninth inning.
 
North Florida and South Alabama continue the series with a single game on Saturday afternoon. The game is slated for 3:00 p.m. (ET). Live stats and in-game Tweets (@OspreyBSB) will be available throughout the game.