Box Score (PDF)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida (20-11, 1-2 A-Sun) picked up its first Atlantic Sun Conference win this afternoon with a 6-5, come from behind victory over Florida Gulf Coast University (14-14-1, 2-1 A-Sun) at Harmon Stadium. The Ospreys offense came alive in their final two turns at the plate and scored the game's final five runs.
Lead-off man
Kyle Brooks ignited an eighth inning rally with a bunt single down the third base line. He then went first to third on a perfectly executed hit and run play with
Ryan Roberson. With the game tied at five, that set the stage for redshirt sophomore
Donnie Dewees.
For the second time in the ball game, FGCU opted to bring in a lefty to face the left handed Dewees. The outfielder took advantage for the second time driving a single into center field that allowed Brooks to score the go-ahead run.
Brooks finished the game 4-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI. He was a home run shy of the cycle and matches a career best with the four-hit effort. Dewees put together his second-straight three-hit performance and finished the series went 7-for-14 in the series. In the field, Dewees recorded an outfield assist and made an diving play in the top of the eighth to rob Zach Orchard of a base it.
Reliever
Corbin Olmstead was credited with the win after pitching perfect eighth and ninth innings. He has yet to give up an earned run in 20 innings pitched this season and records his first victory of 2015.
The win marked the 11
th time the Ospreys have come from behind to win a game and the fourth in which they've won in their final turn at the plate.
After the Eagles opened up a four-run lead in the top of the seventh, the Ospreys broke a five inning string of scoreless innings and plated four runs to tie the game at five. North Florida used four hits and took advantage of a lead-off error. Brooks ended the scoring drought with a double that scored
Alex Bacon. Back-to-back RBI singles by Dewees and Higginbothem pulled the Ospreys within a run. Still with no outs, Olmstead was able to tie the game up with an RBI single that scored Dewees.
The Eagles struck first for the first time in the series with two runs in the top of the first inning. The Ospreys. It didn't take long for the Ospreys to respond, in fact only three pitches. In the bottom half of the frame, lead-off man
Kyle Brooks ripped his first triple of the year into the left center field gap. The next batter, Roberson, was able to push Brooks across on a first-pitch, ground out to short.
The Eagles added to their lead in the top of the third inning on an RBI single by Nick Rivera and the top of the seventh with two runs. With three hits in today's contest, Tyler Selesky finished the series, 8-for-12 (.667).
The Ospreys snapped a six-game, regular season conference losing streak dating back to 2014.
The Ospreys will not play any midweek games for the first time this season and begin preparation for a home Atlantic Sun series again Northern Kentucky. The series opener is scheduled for Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m.
