Late Osprey Rally Comes Up Short as Dolphins Clinch Series

Saturday, April 5

Jacksonville, Fla.

1 p.m.

University of North Florida

14-17, 5-6

Jacksonville

10-19, 5-6

Jacksonville

North Florida

Photo by: ASUN Photos

4/5/2014 4:41:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Box Score (PDF)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida scored four runs in the their final three turns at the plate but cross-town rival Jacksonville (10-19, 5-6 Atlantic Sun) was able to hang on for a 6-5 victory in game two of the Sun Trust River City Rumble.

Trailing 6-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Ospreys sent seven batters to the plate to pull within a run. Jacksonville closer Adam Maxon came on for the second-straight game, walking three batters allowing North Florida to creep back into the game. The Ospreys plated their first run of the frame on a bases loaded ground out by Drew Weeks. After another Maxon walk, Maxon plunked Alex Bacon walking in the fifth run of the game. The right-handed reliever then was able to induce a game-ending double play ball for his sixth save of the season.

The Ospreys once again ran into a strong starting pitching effort as Dolphins lefty, Josh Baker pitched into the seventh inning, earning his third win of the season. He scattered seven hits, allowed three earned runs and struck out three in his sixth start of the spring. On the year the Ospreys drop to 14-17 and are now tied with the Dolphins in the conference standings at 5-6.

A pitcher's duel between Baker and Osprey starter Evan Incinelli emerged over the first five innings of play. Incinelli pitched well enough to win, tossing six innings of three-run baseball. Only two of the three runs were earned for Incinelli in the 94-pitch effort.

North Florida plated the game's first run in their first turn at the plate, in a rally started by lead-off man Kyle Brooks. The sophomore shortstop singled to start the frame and went to third on a double by the next batter Corbin Olmstead. Brooks scored easily a batter later on a RBI ground out by Trent Higginbothem.

The Dolphins tied the game up in the top of the second on an unearned run and later took the lead on the third home run of the season by Connor Marabell in the top of the sixth.

Jacksonville looked like they put the game away in the top of the seventh, posting three runs to take a commanding 5-1 lead. The resilient Ospreys rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh, finally running Baker out of the ball game. Olmstead collected his second hit of the day on an RBI single to left and Higginbothem drove a ball deep enough into center field for James Abbatinozzi to score on the sacrifice fly. The second RBI of the day for Higginbothem was his team-leading 23^rd of the season.

In what proved to be the deciding run in the eighth inning, Alex Seifert laid down a perfect bunt between the pitcher and first base, scoring Nate Ricci on the safety squeeze attempt. Seifert was able to beat everyone to the bag for an infield single. Scott Schaub had another stellar performance at the plate for the Dolphins. The third baseman had a game-high three hits and is now 5-for-9 with two RBIs in the series.

Olmstead finished the day with a pair of hits and two runs scored. Olmstead was 2-for-3 with an RBI batting in the two-hole. Brooks, batting in the top spot for the first time since March 18^th was aboard twice and scored two runs. He has scored 24 times this season, second only to teammate Drew Weeks for the team lead.

The Ospreys will look to avoid the season sweep with the final game of the SunTrust River City Rumble at 1:00 p.m. at Harmon Stadium.