Box Score (PDF)
STATESBORO, Ga. – A strong outing on the mound from freshman Brad Depperman and 16 hits by the North Florida (10-8) offense helped the Ospreys to an 13-3 road victory over Georgia Southern (11-7) this evening. Depperman retired the first 15 batters in order, struck out seven and earned his first collegiate win.
 
Deppermann was dominant from the start, striking out six of the first nine batters he faced. Georgia Southern had trouble lifting the ball in the first five innings as Deppermann induced six ground outs compared to just two fly outs. He threw 80 pitches in 5.1 innings, his longest outing of the season.
 
Cal Baker broke up Deppermann's bid at perfection in the top of the sixth. The lead-off man ripped a ball down the right field line that just rolled past the outstretched glove of Roberson at first base. Deppermann retired the next batter but surrendered a bunt single and a shallow hit to left to load the bases. He was lifted from the game after the third Eagle hit but all three runners went on to score courtesy of a wild pitch, sacrifice fly and RBI single to right by Andrew Kelley.
 
The dazzling performance by Deppermann did not go without some key defensive plays that preserved the perfect five innings. In the first frame, third baseman Trent Higginbothem charged a slowly hit ball and made a perfect throw on the run to end the frame. Centerfielder Alex Bacon took a hit away from Ryan Cleveland, with a diving stab on a sharp line drive in the fifth.
 
At the plate, Nick Karmeris wreaked havoc on the majority of the eight Georgia Southern pitchers. He collected a career-best four hits in the contest including two doubles in his last two turns at the plate. He drove in three runs and also scored two. Patrick Ervin was also put together a career-high, four hits in the game and also scored a pair of runs.
 
Catcher James Abbatinozzi helped the Osprey offense out early and drove in two of the first four North Florida runs. He finished the day with a 3-for-6 effort at the plate to go along with three runs batted in. Ryan Roberson also had a three-hit day, going 3-for-6 with three runs scored and two RBIs.
 
The Ospreys posted four runs in the top of the third took advantage of two walks and consecutive, two-out errors to go up 5-0. Later on, in the sixth, the Ospreys scored three runs to take a commanding 9-0 lead. Georgia Southern issued nine walks in the contest and committed a total of three errors.
 
The 10^th win of the season is the most of any Atlantic Sun team to date. Georgia Southern, an NCAA Regional team last year, has now given up 35 runs in the past two games. Tonight's game marks the ninth time the Ospreys have racked up 10 or more hits and are now 6-3 when posting double-digit base knocks.
 
The victory is the fourth-straight for North Florida after coming off a three-game sweep of Fairfield. Today also marks the first road victory of the season and including neutral site games, the Ospreys improve to 4-6 away from Harmon Stadium.
 
The Ospreys will return home on Friday to begin a four-game series against Brown (1-5). Tyler Moore will get the start on the mound for the Ospreys. Friday will also be the first "Harmon Happy Hour" where all beers will be $1.