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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida (13-11) hung on for an 8-7 victory tonight against the high powered offense of Georgia Southern (19-7). The Ospreys earn a season split with the Eagles and now own a 10-8 advantage in the all-time series.
 
Junior James Abbatinozzi powered the Osprey offense with a career-high five RBIs and a 3-for-4 effort from the plate. He hit his first career home run that plated three runs, and broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the third inning.
 
The Eagles slowly chipped away at the Osprey lead in the late innings and pulled within a run in the top of the eighth. Georgia Southern's Ryan Cleveland led off the top of the ninth inning with an infield single and was immediately lifted for the speedy pinch runner, Josh Black. In the ensuing at bat, Black took off for second and was gunned down by Abbatinozzi from behind the dish with help on a perfect tag from shortstop Kyle Brooks.
 
With one out in the books, reliever Dan Van Sickle took care of the rest inducing a ground out and a fly out for his second save of the season. Van Sickle pitched the final two innings and didn't allow an earned run. He lowers his season ERA to a team-best, 2.36.
 
UNF starting pitcher, Jordan Nolan, picked up his first win as an Osprey after tossing six innings. He held the Eagle offense to just two runs and struck out three batters in his second start of the year.
 
The Ospreys scored in each of their first four turns at the plate. Corbin Olmstead kicked off the North Florida scoring in the bottom of the first with his fourth home run of the year. It marked the second time this season he has led off the game with a home run. He finished the night going 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI.
 
Abbatinozzi added to the UNF lead in the early going with an RBI single in the bottom of the second that scored Garrick Ferguson. The Eagles quickly tied the game up at two in their next turn at the plate. Georgia Southern's Aaron Mizell doubled home the first run of the game and later scored in the inning on an Osprey error.
 
After Abbatinozzi's long ball gave the Ospreys a 5-2 advantage, North Florida scored three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Back-to-back singles by Trent Higginbothem and Alex Bacon started the rally for North Florida in the frame. The two were moved over on a sacrifice bunt and Higginbothem later came around on a wild pitch. An RBI ground out by Ty Kelly made the score 7-3 in favor of the home team. Abbatinozzi capped his career day with an RBI single, giving North Florida a commanding 8-3 lead after five.
 
The Eagles, who came into the game with the fifth-most hits in the country (278), did not go down quietly. Georgia Southern racked up another 17 hits in today's contest, the second most by a North Florida opponent this season. Griffin had three hits in the contest, none more important than his three-run home run to right field in the top of the seventh to make the score 8-6. Griffin was 2-for-5 with four RBIs on the night.
 
Georgia Southern mustered up one more run in the bottom of the 8^th on an RBI single by Mizell. The Eagle right fielder finished the night with three hits, two runs and two RBIs. He came into the game ranked third in the country with nine home runs with two of them coming against North Florida back on March 11^th.
 
Bacon continued his tear of late, putting forth a 2-for-4 effort at the plate with a run scored. Ty Kelly also had two hits and scored on Abbatinozzi's home run.
 
The Ospreys will be back on the road again tomorrow afternoon to take on Savannah State. It will mark the second meeting in as many weeks. North Florida defeated the Tigers 8-7 last Wednesday at Harmon Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Tiger Baseball Stadium.