Dewees’ Walk-off Single Propels #BSB to Second Win

Saturday, February 15

Jacksonville, Fla.

6 p.m.

University of North Florida

2-0

Richmond

0-2

Richmond

North Florida

2/15/2014 10:57:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Box Score (pdf)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sophomore Donnie Dewees singled home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Ospreys a 4-3 victory over Richmond this evening in the nightcap of Saturday's Best Bet Classic. UNF moves to 2-0 on the young season while Richmond drops to 0-2 on the year.

A pair of walks and an infield single by Drew Weeks loaded the bases for Dewees with one out in the bottom of the ninth. After falling behind, 0-2 in the count, Dewees laced an off-speed pitch between the shortstop and the second baseman, scoring James Abbatinozzi for the winning run. Abbatinozzi made his first start for the Ospreys and went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in the contest.

Dewees capped off a 2-for-4 night, and drove in his team-leading, fifth run of the season in his final turn at the plate. The single by Weeks to prolong the ninth inning rally, was his third hit of the game, as he finished 3-for-5 with an RBI.

Junior Evan Incinelli was brilliant in relief, tossing five innings and allowing only one run to earn his first victory of the season. He fanned three batters, scattered three hits and walked no one in his first action of 2014. Incinelli came on in relief in the fourth inning, for starter David Trexler. The senior put together four solid innings and struck out a game-high six batters.

The Ospreys found themselves down early, just as they did in yesterday's contest. Richmond jumped out in front in the top of the first when Adam Forrer led off the game with a double and later came around on a wild pitch.

The lead for the Spiders did not last long as UNF struck in the bottom of the second inning for three runs. With freshman Patrick Ervin and Abbatinozzi already aboard and one out, Kyle Brooks drove a pitch over the right fielder's head for a bases clearing triple. The next batter, Weeks, singled up the middle to make the score, 3-1 in favor of the home team after two innings.

Richmond chipped away at the two-run lead beginning in the top of the fourth inning. First baseman Doug Kraeger drilled a RBI double to center field that scored Kurtis Brown to pull the Spiders within a run. It was Kraeger again that did the damage in the top of the sixth. The sophomore blasted an opposite field, solo home run over the right field fence to tie the game up at three.

Incinelli and Richmond reliever Zak Sterling kept the two offenses in check over the next two innings until the Ospreys rallied in their final at bat.

Kraeger finished the night going, 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

Earlier in the day, the University of South Florida picked up a pair of wins, defeating Liberty, 2-1 and Richmond, 11-4. The final day of the Best Bet Classic will match two teams seeking their first win and two teams without a loss. Richmond (0-2) and Liberty (0-2) will square off at 12:00 p.m. and USF (2-0) and UNF (2-0) will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium.