Boxscore
 
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The University of North Florida baseball team trailed 3-0 before scoring 14 runs in the next five innings to cruise to a 15-5 victory over USC Upstate in the opening game of the final regular season Atlantic Sun Conference series of the season. The Ospreys (37-16, 17-8 A-Sun) recorded 19 hits, including seven extra-base hits, to post the 10-run victory over the Spartans (25-27, 8-17 A-Sun).
 
Offensively, the Ospreys were balanced with eight of the starters recording at least one hit, including seven starters with extra base hits. Drew Weeks and Tyler Marincov each hit home runs in the game, while Spencer Herrmann added a pair of doubles. Donnie Dewees, Nick Karmeris and Garrick Ferguson also recorded doubles in the game. Dewees led the team with four base hits and tied Marincov for the team-lead with four runs scored. N. Karmeris and Weeks tied with a team-best three RBI in the game.
 
On the mound, starter Tommy Organ earned a no-decision. The southpaw scattered eight hits in 3.1 innings of work. Organ allowed three runs, no walks and struck out three batters. He gave way to David Trexler who picked up his fourth win of the season, working 4.2 innings. Trexler allowed two runs on six hits, walking two. Trey Ferrano pitched a perfect ninth inning, marking the only 1-2-3 inning of the night for the Ospreys.
 
USC Upstate was the first team to score, plating a run in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, the Spartans used back-to-back singles to place a pair of runners on base. The lead runner advanced to third on a deep fly ball, but a two-out single put Upstate in front 1-0.
 
The Spartans added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, the hosts used a hit batter to place a runner on first base. A single up the middle gave USC Upstate runners on first and second. Upstate's Trey Patterson doubled off the top of the left field wall down the line to score the lead runner. With runners on second and third and one out, the Spartans used a sacrifice fly to center field to increase their advantage to 3-0.
 
North Florida answered in the top of the fourth inning. Marincov led off the inning with a single through the left side of the infield. Dewees doubled down the left field line to place runners on second and third with no outs. Weeks put the Ospreys on the scoreboard with a RBI single to short. With runners on the corners and one out, North Florida attempted a double steal. Week was called out, but on the throw, Dewees was able to cross the plate, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
 
The Ospreys worked out of a jam in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Spartans used back-to-back singles to place runners on first and second with one out, prompting a pitching change by North Florida. After the pitching change, the next batter loaded the bases with a four-pitch walk. The Ospreys escaped the inning without allowing a run as Trexler induced a line drive out to third base and ended the inning with a fielder's choice back to the mound.
 
In the top of the fifth inning, Paul Karmeris walked to place a runner on base for North Florida. He was erased on a fielder's choice that saw Marincov reach base. Dewees singled to give the Ospreys runners on first and second. Weeks worked the count full before drawing a walk to load the bases for N. Karmeris. The redshirt freshman singled to right center field, scoring Marincov and Dewees to give North Florida its first lead of the ballgame. With runners on the corners, N. Karmeris broke for second base. When the Upstate catcher threw down to try to catch N. Karmeris stealing, the freshman retreated back towards first. Weeks then broke for home, stealing his 13th base of the season on the delayed steal. N. Karmeris advanced to second on the throw and was able to move to third base as the throw was off the mark.
 
North Florida extended its lead in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Marincov drew a free pass to place a runner on first base. Dewees singled to right field to leave North Florida with runners on the corners. Weeks drove home the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to left field. N. Karmeris followed with a RBI double to left center field. Kyle Brooks continued the inning with a RBI single up the middle to put UNF in front 8-3.
 
The Ospreys put the game out of reach with six runs in the top of the eighth inning. P. Karmeris led off the inning with a walk and came around to score on Marincov's sixth home run of the season. Dewees and Weeks were both hit by pitches, prompting a pitching change. With two outs, Brooks singled to left center field, loading the bases for North Florida. Bass singled down the left field line to score Dewees. Herrmann followed with a two-RBI double to right center field to push the lead to double digits. Joe Wielbruda plated Bass with a sacrifice fly to right field, giving the Ospreys a 14-3 edge.
 
USC Upstate trimmed the lead to single digits with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. With one out, the Spartans used back-to-back singles to place two runners on base. Upstate's Luke Weber doubled to left center field, scoring the two runners. Back-to-back fly balls ended the inning with North Florida leading 14-5.
 
UNF added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning. With one out, Weeks hit his team-leading seventh home run of the season, increasing the lead to 10 runs.
 
The Ospreys slammed the door on any potential comeback attempt as Ferrano worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
 
North Florida and USC Upstate continue the series with a game on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. at Cleveland S. Harley Park in Spartanburg, S.C. Live stats and in-game tweets (@OspreyBSB) will be available throughout the game.