Box Score (PDF)
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky – North Florida won its second- consecutive Atlantic Sun series, defeating Northern Kentucky, 8-1 this afternoon. Five runs in the final two innings along with a complete game from sophomore
Corbin Olmstead helped the Ospreys improve to 12-11 on the season and 4-2 in Atlantic Sun play.
For the third-straight game, the Ospreys collected 10 or more hits, stringing together a total of 13 in today's contest. Sophomore
Kyle Brooks tied a career high with three hits, two of them doubles, to pace the Osprey offense. He tied the Division I school record by scoring four runs on the day.
A week after tossing a career-high six innings in an extra inning victory over USC Upstate, Olmstead went the distance this afternoon for his second victory of the season. He allowed only one run and struck out five in the first complete game of the season for the Osprey pitching staff.
The Ospreys one-through-four hitters combined to go 9-for-16 with seven runs scored and three RBIs. Olmstead helped himself out at the plate finishing the day going 2-for-5 with two runs scored in the lead-off position.
Trent Higginbothem put forth his eighth multiple-hit effort this season, finishing the day with two hits and a pair of RBIs.
For the first time in the weekend series, the Ospreys scored first and never trailed in the game. North Florida took advantage of a Norse error in the top of the first. An errant throw on sacrifice bunt attempt by Brooks allowed Olmstead to score all the way from first. Brooks came around to score on ground out by Higginbothem to quickly put the Ospreys up 2-0.
The only run of the game for Northern Kentucky came in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double by Caleb Kellog. The Norse left fielder was 5-for-10 with six RBIs against the Ospreys this weekend.
Alex Bacon gave the Ospreys a two-run advantage in the top of the sixth with an RBI single through the left side, scoring Brooks. Bacon was clutch the entire weekend with runners on base, driving in a total of six runs in the series.
North Florida forced Norse starting pitcher Adam Jafine out of the ball game in the eighth inning after loading the bases. Jake Shaw, came on in relief and was unable to get out of today's bases loaded jam unscathed. Brooks scored his third run of the game on an RBI fielder's choice by Bacon and pinch hitter
Nick Karmeris drove in his second run of the series with a single to right field, making the score 5-1.
The Ospreys ended all notions of a Northern Kentucky comeback by breaking the game open in the top of the ninth, plating three more runs. Higginbothem capped the Osprey scoring with a two-run double to center field scoring Brooks and Olmstead.
The Ospreys will be back home on Tuesday evening to host Georgia Southern at Harmon Stadium. North Florida will look to avenge a 13-1 loss to the Eagles in Statesboro earlier this season. Game time is set for 6:00 p.m.
