Boxscore
DELAND, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team dropped a 5-2 decision to Kennesaw State on Saturday night in the semifinals of the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships at Melching Field on the campus of Stetson University. With the win, the Owls (29-29) force a rematch with the Ospreys (40-18) on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. for a chance to play East Tennessee State in the A-Sun Championship game.
North Florida was unable to get the bats going in the game, recording just six hits in the game with no extra-base hits. The Ospreys were unable to get a timely hit, stranding 11 runners on base, including six in scoring position.
Garrick Ferguson led the team with three hits, while
Tyler Marincov,
Ryan Roberson and
Drew Weeks each added base hits on the day. Ferguson and
Kyle Brooks each scored runs on the day, while Marincov recorded the only RBI in the game.
On the mound,
Nick Allbritton took the hard-luck loss. The senior tossed 6.1 innings of work, allowing eight hits – all singles. He was charged with eight runs, but only a pair of earned runs. Allbritton walked three and struck out five batters. Allbritton worked three 1-2-3 innings, facing the minimum in the first three innings.
Allbritton gave way in the seventh inning to
Spencer Herrmann. The sophomore did not allow a hit in 2.2 scoreless innings of work. He struck out a pair of batters while facing the minimum.
Kennesaw State was the first team to score, plating three runs in the top of the fourth inning. The Owls opened up the inning placing a base runner on first thanks to a North Florida fielding error. The next batter walked and the two runners advanced 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt. The Owls took the lead as Chris McGowan hit a two RBI single up the middle. A single to shallow right field left KSU with runners on the corners. The Ospreys look to have a double play ball, but were only able to record one out on the play, allowing the third run to cross the plate. The inning ended on a ground ball to second base, but North Florida trailed 3-0.
The Owls increased their lead to 5-0 with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, Kennesaw State used a walk and a single to place a pair of base runners aboard. The Owls loaded the bases as the following batter was hit by a pitch. The Ospreys were able to induce a ground ball to first base.
Ryan Roberson went home with the ball, but the ball was dropped at home allowing the lead runner to score. The second run came across to score as North Florida walked the next batter with the bases loaded. UNF recorded the second out of the inning with a strikeout and a fielder's choice ended the inning.
North Florida scratched the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh inning. Ferguson led off the inning with a single to left field. Brooks was hit by a pitch to give UNF a pair of base runners with one out.
Paul Karmeris loaded the bases, drawing a walk. Marincov drove home the first run of the game for the Ospreys with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Ferguson from third base. On the play, Brooks advanced to third, leaving UNF with runners on the corners. The second run of the inning came on a wild pitch, allowing Brooks to score easily from third base. On the play, P. Karmeris was able to advance to third base as an errant throw moved him to within 90 feet of home.
Donnie Dewees extended the inning with a walk. With runners on the corners and two outs, Kennesaw State went to the bullpen. The new pitcher was able to induce a groundout to end the inning, but the Ospreys had cut the deficit to just three at 5-2.
The Ospreys had an opportunity in the bottom of the eighth inning, but could not get a timely hit. With one out,
Nick Karmeris drew a free pass. Ferguson singled to right field to place a pair of runners on base. UNF was unable to scratch across a run across as a strikeout and a groundout ended the inning.
North Florida and Kennesaw State will meet again in an elimination game at 1:00 p.m. The winner advances to face ETSU in a winner-takes-all Championship Game of the 2013 Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. Live stats, live audio, live video and in-game tweets (@OspreyBSB) will be available throughout the game.
