Ospreys Prevail in Extras Over Catamounts

Friday, March 7

Athens, Ga.

1 p.m.

University of North Florida

5-6

Western Carolina

8-3

North Florida

Western Carolina

Photo by: Dave Schofield

3/7/2014 5:16:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Box Score (PDF)
ATHENS, Ga. – Freshman Alex Merritt delivered a two-out, RBI single in the top of the 10^th inning to help the Ospreys defeat Western Carolina (8-3) by the score of 4-2 today on day one of the Georgia Bulldog Invitational. North Florida posts its fifth win of the season, improving its overall record to 5-6 on the season.

Alex Bacon started the extra-inning rally with a one-out walk and pinch-hitter Nick Karmeris followed up with a single through the left side. After both runners moved to second and third on a ground out, Merritt stepped in and ripped a single through the middle that scored the go-ahead runs.

Bacon scored two of the Ospreys four runs and went 1-for-3 with an RBI on the day. Patrick Ervin led the North Florida offense in the contest with two hits in five at bats. It marked his third multiple-hit effort of the season.

Right-hander Dan VanSickle earned the win for the Ospreys after he tossed four and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief. He struck out three batters and scattered three hits in his fourth appearance. It marked the third time this season that he has pitched three or more innings of scoreless relief this season.

Neither team was able to scratch any offense together in the first three innings until the Catamounts got the first three runners aboard in the bottom of the fourth, with no outs. Osprey starting pitcher, David Trexler retired the next three batters and only surrendered one run on an RBI ground out to second base.

North Florida responded in its very next at bat, plating two runs to take a 2-1 lead. Kyle Brooks led the frame off with a single to right field. The next batter, Alex Bacon, lined an opposite field double that allowed Brooks to score all the way from first. The game was tied up on an RBI ground out to second by Peyton Walsh.

Catamount right fielder, Dykota Spiess took advantage of the short porch in right at Foley Field in the bottom of the sixth. He drove a towering fly ball that cleared the fence and tied the game up at two in the bottom half of the sixth. The homer was the second of the season for the senior.

Trexler didn't factor in the decision but was solid over five and one-third innings. He allowed only two runs and struck out three batters. He lowered his season ERA to 3.76 in the outing. His counterpart on the hill, Jeremy Null, was equally as effective and pitched into the ninth inning. Null struck out five Ospreys and walked only one in his fourth start of the year.

The Ospreys will be back on the diamond tomorrow afternoon when they take on host, Georgia at 1:00 p.m. Junior right-hander Evan Incinelli (2-1) will get the start for the Ospreys on the mound and he will be opposed by lefty, Jared Walsh (0-0).

Quick Hits
-In his three previous starts, Catamount starting pitcher Jeremy Null allowed only one earned run in 22 innings pitched. He came into the contest with a 3-0 record which included a season-opening, win over No. 2 Mississippi State in which he struck out 12 batters.
-The Ospreys are 3-1 this season in games that David Trexler starts.
-Junior Drew Weeks extended his hitting streak to 19 games with a single to center in the top of the ninth inning.
-Today marked the first ever meeting between Western Carolina and North Florida.
-The Ospreys ended a seven-game winning streak for the Catamounts today. Western Carolina's only two other losses came at the hands of then No. 2 Mississippi State.

Georgia Bulldog Invitational Schedule
Friday, March 7th
1 p.m.	North Florida vs. Western Carolina	UNF, 4-2 F/10
5 p.m.	Buffalo vs. GEORGIA	GameTracker \| Video
Sat, March 8
1 p.m.	North Florida vs. GEORGIA	GameTracker \| Audio
5 p.m.	Western Carolina vs. Buffalo	GameTracker
Sun., March 9
11 a.m.	Buffalo vs. North Florida	GameTracker
3 p.m.	Western Carolina vs. GEORGIA	GameTracker \| Video