Box Score (PDF)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The North Florida baseball team rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Bethune-Cookman, 12-7 this evening. Home for the first time since February 26th, the Ospreys improved their record to 5-2 at Harmon Stadium and 7-8 overall.

Junior Garrick Ferguson broke a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the seventh with a three-run homer to left field. Corbin Olmstead capped the seven-run rally with his first career home run to make the score 12-6. Ferguson was 2-for-5 with three RBIs while Olmstead finished the night going 3-for-5 with three runs scored. The seven-run outburst is the most runs in one inning this season for the Osprey offense.

Nick Miller got his second start of the season but did not factor in the decision. The junior right-hander struck out a season-best five, in five innings of work. Left-hander Tyler DuPont was credited with his first win of the season, allowing one run over two innings.

Bethune-Cookman (9-8) came out of the gates hot, scoring five runs in the first five innings. The Wildcats held the lead a total of four times but the Ospreys came back on every occasion.

Trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth, North Florida plated three runners to tie the game at five. Three-straight hits to lead-off the frame by Kyle Brooks, Corbin Olmstead and Drew Weeks loaded the bases for the Ospreys. Heads up base-running by Brooks on a wild pitch pulled the Ospreys within two. A batter later, Ryan Roberson chopped a ball through the left side that scored two runs and tied the game up at five. Playing in his first two games of the season this week, Roberson has two hits and three RBIs.

The Wildcats responded in the top half of the sixth with an RBI single by Eros Modena to give the visitors a 6-5 advantage. An inning and a half later, the Ospreys erupted for their biggest offensive inning of the season, powered by the pair of home runs by Ferguson and Olmstead. Senior catcher Peyton Walsh also contributed in the big inning with an RBI single to left. He finished the night tying a career-best with three hits.

Weeks and Trent Higginbothem rounded out the multiple-hit games for the Ospreys. Higginbothem was 2-for-4 with a run scored and Weeks continued his hot hitting with a 2-for-5 effort at the plate. Weeks extended his hit-streak that dates back to last season to 23 games.

Senior Ryan McMahon came on to work a scoreless ninth, striking out the game's final batter and lowering his ERA to a team-best 2.25.

North Florida improves to 13-6 all-time against Bethune Cookman. In a series that began in 1989, the 12 runs by the Ospreys are the most put up by either team since a 13-6 UNF victory on April 1, 1989.

The Ospreys will open up conference play with a three-game set against USC Upstate this weekend. The first game of the series is scheduled for Friday night at 6:00 p.m.