Box Score (PDF)TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In the 13
th one-run game of the season, North Florida (25-11) hung on to a 5-4 victory over Florida A&M (12-19) this evening. The Ospreys are currently riding a six-game win streak going into Atlantic Sun Conference play this weekend.
Trailing 4-1, the Osprey offense came alive in the top of the sixth with three runs to tie the game at four.
Garrick Ferguson delivered a two-out, bases loaded double down the left field line that scored two runs. The next batter,
Dakota Higdon, beat out high chopper to the left side of the infield that enabled
Patrick Ervin to score the tying run.
In the seventh,
Trent Higginbothem drove in his second run of the game to put the Ospreys up for good. An RBI single through the left side scored
Donnie Dewees from second base and put North Florida up 5-4. Dewees drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on throwing error by the pitcher attempting to pick him off. Higginbothem's go ahead RBI was his 39
th of the season and he finished the day 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Redshirt sophomore
Alex Smith was one of five pitchers to see action in the game and pitched 2.2 innings of scoreless baseball. He came on in relief in the bottom of the sixth, struck out two and recorded his fourth win of the season.
For the second-straight day, junior
Corbin Olmstead closed the door for a four-out save. Two runners reached in the ninth but the hard throwing right-hander was able to strike out Michael Birdsong for the final out of the game. He was credited with his fourth save of the year and has not allowed an unearned run in 23.2 innings this year.
James Abbatinozzi put together his seventh multiple hit game of the season. He was 2-for-4 with a run scored in the contest. Dewees' single up the middle third inning helped prolong his hitting streak to 12 games. His defense also proved to be pivotal in the tight game. He threw out Kendal Weeks trying to score from second with two outs in the fourth. It was his team-best, 6
th outfield assist of the year.
With runs in consecutive innings, the Rattlers built a 2-0 lead in their first two turns at the plate. Marlon Gibbs got the Rattlers on the scoreboard early with a solo home run bottom of the first. With one out and runners on the corners in the second, Florida A&M successfully pulled off double steal that plated Kendall Weeks.
The Ospreys responded with their first run of the game on a sacrifice fly by Higginbothem. Junior
Kyle Brooks, who reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the frame scored to cut the North Florida deficit in half.
The second home run of the ball game came off the bat of Brian Davis who made the score 4-1 with a two-run shot to right field.
Tonight was the 13
th come-from-behind win of the season for North Florida in 2015.
North Florida will continue its four-game road swing this weekend with three-game Atlantic Sun series against Lipscomb (19-11, 1-2 A-Sun). The series opener is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST/6:00 p.m. CST on Friday night.
