Boxscore
DELAND, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team dropped the opening game of a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference series 9-4 to Stetson on Saturday night at Melching Field at Conrad Park. Leading 4-3, the Ospreys (33-13, 14-5 A-Sun) surrendered six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and were unable to mount a comeback in the top of the ninth inning against the Hatters (22-23, 11-8 A-Sun).
Trailing 4-3, Stetson batted around in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring six runs on seven hits, including four consecutive hits, to take a 9-4 lead they would not relinquish. The Hatters led off the inning with a base hit. After a strikeout, Stetson used back-to-back hits to tie the score at 4-4. A walk loaded the bases, prompting a pitching change by North Florida. Four consecutive base hits allowed five runs to cross the plate and give the home team an opening-game victory.
The Ospreys were unable to get much going offensively. North Florida collected just four hits on the night, tallying four runs.
Donnie Dewees,
Tyler Marincov,
Ryan Roberson and
Drew Weeks each had a hit for the Ospreys. Roberson led the team with a run scored and two runs batted in. Dewees, Marincov and
Corey Bass also scored runs on the night and Weeks chipped in a RBI.
On the mound, starter
Tommy Organ earned a no decision. The senior worked 4.1 innings allowing three runs – two earned runs – on five hits. Organ walked a batter and struck out five, leaving the game tied at 3-3.
David Trexler took the loss for North Florida. The junior was charged with four runs on five hits. He walked a batter and struck out one.
Corbin Olmstead worked the final 0.2 innings. The freshman surrendered two runs on four hits.
North Florida was the first team to score, plating three runs in the top of the first inning. With two outs, Marincov reached on a fielding error. Dewees followed with a single to second base and advanced to second base on a throwing error by the Hatters. With runners on second and third, Roberson singled to center field, scoring both runners and giving UNF an early 2-0 lead. On the play, Roberson was able to advance to second on the throw home by SU. Weeks followed with a RBI single to left field pushing the Osprey advantage to 3-0.
Stetson scored an unearned run in the bottom of the inning to trim the lead to 3-1. The leadoff batter reached base on a throwing error by the Ospreys. A single gave the Hatters a pair of base runners. The inning continued as the Ospreys hit a batter with a pitch to load the bases with no outs. The Hatters plated their first base runner on a RBI groundout. Organ ended the inning without any further damage with back-to-back strikeouts.
The Hatters tied the game on one swing in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Stetson used a walk to put a runner on base. SU's Patrick Mazeika hit a two-run homer to right field to knot the game at 3-3.
The game remained 3-3 until the top of the eighth inning. Bass led off the inning by reaching base on a throwing error by the Hatters.
Joe Wielbruda advanced Bass to second base on a sacrifice bunt. Bass moved to third base on a groundout. With two outs, Bass came home to score on a fielding error by Stetson, allowing Marincov to reach base safely. Marincov stole second base to move into scoring position, but a groundout ended the inning with North Florida in front 4-3.
The Hatters used a 6-run eighth inning to take control of the game. The Ospreys were unable to rally in the ninth inning, dropping the five-run decision.
North Florida and Stetson conclude the series with a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Melching Field beginning at 1:00 p.m. The first game will be nine innings with a run-rule in effect. Game two will be seven innings as per Atlantic Sun Conference rules. Both games will be available on the radio, 1010xl and 92.5, with Robert Harper handling the play-by-play. Live stats and in-game tweets (@OspreyBSB) will be available throughout both games.
