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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a series that has had a flair for the dramatic over past few years, it was the 20^th-ranked Florida Gators who came up with a late rally to defeat the North Florida Ospreys, 8-7 this evening at MeKethan Stadium. The back-and-forth battle was ultimately decided in the bottom of the eighth inning where Florida recaptured the lead by scoring the game's final three runs.
 
The win is the third-straight for the Gators, improving their record to 4-1 on the season. The Ospreys drop to 2-2 on the year and have now lost two of the last three against Florida.
 
It was the Ospreys who were in the driver seat late in the game. After falling behind 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning, UNF answered with three runs in the top of the eighth to take a 7-5 lead. Freshman Patrick Ervin led off the inning with a single to center and James Abbatinozzi was hit by a pitch to ignite the Osprey comeback. After a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, Kyle Brooks drove in the tying run on an infield hit. The next batter, Drew Weeks, laced a pitch through the left side of a drawn in Florida infield to put the Ospreys ahead, 7-6. UNF tacked on another run on a Florida error to take a two-run cushion into the bottom of the eighth.
 
The Gators loaded up the bases in their final at bat and took advantage of a two-out Osprey error to tie the game up at seven. A single to centerfield by Casey Turgeon in the following at bat drove in the eventual game-winning run for the Gators.
 
UNF did not go down without a fight in the top of the ninth. Alex Merritt led the inning off with a single and was moved into scoring position after Patrick Ervin's single through the left side. The Florida defense ended all hopes of a dramatic ending with their fourth double play of the night to end the game.
 
Kyle Brooks sparked the Osprey offense from the top of the lineup, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Ervin finished the game with two hits in four at bats. Getting the nod behind the dish, Abbatinozzi had his second multiple-hit effort in as many starts, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
 
Freshman Jordan Nolan was the latest Osprey to put together an excellent relief effort. The right-hander came on in relief of starter Nick Miller and tossed four innings, allowing only one earned run. He held the Gators scoreless for three innings before exiting in the bottom of the seventh.
 
The Ospreys were in control of the game early, knocking Florida starter Dane Dunning out of the game after just 1.2 innings. The Osprey offense had had a golden opportunity in the top of the first inning, loading the bases with just one out. Dunning worked himself out of the frame, recording a strikeout and induced the inning-ending groundout to first base.
 
Fortunately for the Ospreys, the bases loaded opportunity knocked again in the top of the second and this time the visitors took advantage. Abbatinozzi broke the scoreless tie, scoring on a wild pitch. The Gators elected to intentionally walk the Osprey three-hitter, Donnie Dewees with first base open. The errant pitch ultimately forced Dunning out of the game and brought on righty Aaron Rhodes. The next batter, Trent Higginbothem, made the Gators pay, lining a fastball into the right-centerfield for a bases clearing double and put the Ospreys up, 4-0.
 
The Gators responded in the bottom half off the third inning with four runs to tie the game. After the first four batters reached base in the frame, junior Jordan Nolan came on in relief of Miller with the score 4-1. Nolan got the first batter to fly out to center but it was deep enough to score Casey Turgeon. A wild pitch and an RBI single by Braden Mattson knotted the game up at four after three innings.
 
Relief pitching took over for both teams from that point forward. Eric Hanold took on most of the work for the Gators, tossing three innings and allowing two runs.

Before the two, three-run eighth innings for both teams, the Gators broke the string of scoreless innings in the bottom of the seventh manufacturing a run after a lead-off double by Richie Martin. He was moved over on a ground ball to second base and scored on a sacrifice fly from Taylor Gushue.
 
Florida came into the game ranked in the top 25 by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game. The Ospreys hare now 13-27 all-time against ranked opponents since reclassifying to Division I in 2006. In a series that dates back to 2006, Florida is now 8-6 all-time against UNF.
 
The Ospreys return home to host a three-game series with Fairfield University This weekend. The Stags first action of the season will be at Harmon Stadium on Friday night at 6:00 p.m.