Box Score (PDF)
ATHENS, Ga. – The University of Georgia broke a 3-3 tie in its final at bat on a single by Nelson Ward to claim a 4-3 win over North Florida (5-7) this afternoon on day two of the Georgia Bulldog Invitational. The win is the seventh in a row for Georgia, improving its record to 9-6 on the season.
 
The two teams were scoreless over four innings prior to the game-winning hit. In the ninth, the lead-off batter for the Bulldogs reached on an error and was moved to third on a double by Heath Holder. After intentionally walking the next batter the Ospreys cut down the runner trying to score on a fielder's choice to third, recording the first out. The left-hand hitting Ward dug in and ripped a single down the right field line to end the game. It marked the third time during the Bulldog winning streak that they have won in their final turn at the plate.
 
Eight of the nine starters for the Ospreys recorded a hit in the contest including Alex Bacon who finished the day going 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. The Georgia pitching staff issued an opponent-high for the season, six walks to the North Florida offense.
 
After the Bulldog hitters made him work hard over the first few innings, Osprey starting pitcher Evan Incinelli retired his last six batters in order and didn't get a chance to factor in the decision. The right-hander pitched six innings, allowed two earned runs, struck out two and walked no one.
 
An RBI double by Georgia's Hunter Cole put the Bulldogs up 1-0 after one inning of play. The Ospreys responded in their next turn at the plate when Corbin Olmstead doubled to start off the second frame. A batter later, Alex Bacon cracked his second home run of the season over the left field wall to give North Florida its first lead of the game.
 
The resilient Bulldogs, who came back from a pair of four-run deficits in last night's win over Buffalo, tied the game up in the bottom of the second on back-to-back singles by Heath Holder and Skyler Weber. The tying run was unearned as Georgia was aided by an Osprey throwing error.
 
The scoring continued for North Florida in the top of the third, when Weeks and Trent Higginbothem were each issued walks to start the frame. The free passes spelled the demise of Georgia starting pitcher Jared Walsh's day. Reliever David Sosebee came on and struck out the first batter but gave up an RBI double to Kyle Brooks, giving the Ospreys a 3-2 lead after three innings.
 
Georgia provided the equalizer in the bottom of the fourth off the bat of Holder. With two outs and a runner on second, the junior first baseman tripled down the right field line, bringing home Zack Bowers and to tie the game up at three. The three-bagger was the first of Holder's career.
 
Olmstead also made his first appearance on the mound since February 26^th and got the Ospreys out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh inning. He pitched the final one and two-thirds innings, allowing one unearned run in the process.
 
Sosebee kept North Florida off the scoreboard for five innings, surrendered only four hits and struck out four.
 
The Ospreys will conclude their stay in Athens tomorrow morning with a game against the University of Buffalo. On the mound for North Florida will be Tyler Moore (0-0) and he will be opposed by Mike Burke (1-0). First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m. at Foley Field.
 
Quick Hits
-Georgia scored in the bottom of the first inning to take game's initial lead. Coming into the game, the Ospreys were 3-0 when an opponent scores in the first inning.
-Alex Bacon hit his 18^th career home run in the top of the second inning. His 18 dingers are the 6^th-most by any player in the North Florida Division I era. He trails T.J. Thompson for fifth place who hit 19 from 2007-10.
-Drew Weeks extended his hitting streak to 20 games with an infield single in the fifth.
-North Florida is 11-15 all-time against SEC schools
-Prior to today's game the Ospreys had only committed one error in the previous six games. Today was their first multiple error game since February 22^nd against Fairfield.
- The Ospreys left 11 runners on base in today's game. North Florida is 2-4 when leaving 10 or more runners on base this season.