Game Notes (PDF)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida (20-11, 1-2 A-Sun) continues Atlantic Sun Conference play beginning Thursday with a three-game series against Northern Kentucky (9-15, 0-0 A-Sun). Thursday and Friday's games are scheduled for 6:00 p.m. while Sunday's series finale will be at 11:30 a.m. at Harmon Stadium.
**Special Ticket Information: Thursday will be
younglife night where fans wearing younglife apparel can purchase tickets for $2. For more information on tickets to for any of the weekend contests call 904-620-BIRD (2473) or visit our
ticket page.
Probable Starting PitchersThursday:
UNF- RHP
Evan Incinelli (2-2, 4.18 ERA, 23.2 IP, 6 BB, 19 SO)
vs.
NKU - LHP Evan Corson (2-2, 2.63 ERA, 24 IP, 12 BB, 21 SO)
Friday
UNF- LHP
Tyler DuPont (4-1, 4.32 ERA, 41.2 IP, 10 BB, 22 SO)
vs.
NKU- RHP Justin Watts (1-1, 5.51 ERA, 16.1 IP, 4 BB, 13 SO)
Saturday
UNF- RHP
Matt Vaka (1-0, 2.11 ERA, 21.1 IP, 7 BB, 9 SO)
vs.
NKU- LHP Matt Jefferson (1-4, 6.59 ERA, 42.1 IP, 13 BB, 32 SO
) First A-Sun Win: On Sunday, the Ospreys salvaged their first A-Sun series and avoided a sweep with a
6-5 come-from-behind victory over Florida Gulf Coast University. Trailing by five runs, the Ospreys tied the game up with a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh and plated the go-ahead run in the eighth on
Donnie Dewees single that scored
Kyle Brooks from second base. Junior
Corbin Olmstead shut the door in the top of the ninth, the second of his two innings of scoreless relief. The right-hander earned his first victory of 2015.
Career Fielding Records: Shortstop
Kyle Brooks and first baseman
Ryan Roberson are expected to take control of the North Florida Division I career records for assists and putouts respectively this weekend. With 438 assists, Brooks is one shy of tying the career mark currently held by T.J. Thompson (2007-10). Roberson is 10 putouts shy of the D-1 record of 933 held by Jimmy Glanville (2006-07).
Not Exactly A Blowout: To illustrate the close nature of games played by the Ospreys this season, Saturday's three-run loss to FGCU was their worst defeat of the season in terms of run margin. Seven of the Ospreys 11 losses have been by one run and three have been decided by two runs.
Belly to Belly: From 2011-13 the Ospreys hit back-to-back home runs three times, a span of 168 games. On Wednesday against Bethune-Cookman,
Ryan Roberson and
Corbin Olmstead hit back-to-back homers in a 11-5 win. The next game, the Ospreys accomplished the feat TWICE in the same contest. The second and third batters of the game for North Florida,
Donnie Dewees and
Trent Higginbothem went back to back while Roberson and Karmeris followed with back-to-back shots in the sixth.
Comeback Kids: Sunday's come-from-behind win was the Ospreys 11th of the season and fourth when trailing after the sixth inning. The Ospreys have won four games in their final turn at the plate including a
walk-off against Georgia Southern on Feb. 25Tops in the A-Sun: The Ospreys lead the Atlantic Sun in five offensive categories, batting average (.303), runs (238), hits (337), home runs (23) and slugging percentage (.438). North Florida is also the most sound fielding team in the league statistically with a .982 fielding percentage.
Sixth Inning Rallies: In three games against FGCU the Ospreys scored six runs in the sixth inning, including a four-run outburst on Saturday. The sixth has been the Ospreys' most potent inning in 2015, scoring 40 of the 238 runs (22%).
Unearned Run Streak: Two-way player
Corbin Olmstead has now pitched 20 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. He made two appearances and totaled three innings against FGCU. He also leads the team in strikeouts (29) and saves (2).
All-Time Series: Prior to joining the Atlantic Sun the Ospreys and Norse met only once, an 8-1 North Florida win on March 15, 1992 in Jacksonville. The Ospreys own a 5-1 record against Northern Kentucky in A-Sun action and are 3-0 at Harmon Stadium.
Scouting NKU: The Norse had a successful weekend against local rival, Xavier picking up the series sweep. In their only midweek game, Eastern Kentucky jumped out to an 11-0 lead after two innings en route to a 14-4 victory on Tuesday night. This weekend will mark the first Atlantic Sun action of the 2015 season as the Norse who went 6-21 against A-Sun foes in 2014. Senior Cole Bauml leads the team with a .392 batter average, 19 doubles and five home runs. Friday night's starting pitcher, Evan Korson sports a team-low, 2.63 ERA and is second on the team with 21 strikeouts.
| | |
| Location | Highland Heights, Ky. | Jacksonville, Fla. |
| Founded | 1968 | 1965 |
| Enrollment | 15,750 | 16,357 |
| Nickname | Norse | Ospreys |
| Conference | Atlantic Sun | Atlantic Sun |
| 2015 Record | 9-15 (0-0 A-Sun) | 20-11 (1-2 A-Sun) |
| Northern Kentucky | North Florida |
| Avg. | .280 | .303 |
| Runs | 127 | 238 |
| Hits | 234 | 337 |
| 2B | 56 | 61 |
| 3B | 10 | 3 |
| HR | 23 | 16 |
| RBI | 115 | 212 |
| BB | 83 | 104 |
| ERA | 5.92 | 4.09 |
| SO | 154 | 218 |
| BB | 94 | 100 |
| FLD % | .952 | .982 |
