Thibideau Walk-Off Home Run Downs Seahawks in 11 Innings

Friday, March 11

Jacksonville, Fla.

6:00 p.m.

University of North Florida

7-8

UNC Wilmington

9-3

UNCW

North Florida

Photo by: Morgan Purvis

3/11/2016 10:20:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Scott Fitzgerald, Athletic Communications

Box Score (PDF)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Down a run in the bottom of the 11^th inning, redshirt junior Chris Thibideau launched a two-run homer over the left center field wall to give North Florida (7-8) a 3-2, walk-off victory in the opening game of a three game series with UNC Wilmington (9-3).

The long ball was his first NCAA home run after transferring from Midland College (Texas) this past fall. It capped a career-day, as the centerfielder went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored.

Junior Alex Merritt set the table for Thibideau by leading off the 11^th with a single to left field. After a failed sacrifice attempt to move the pinch-runner Bubba Olivera to second, Thibideau took matters into his own hands. With one out already in the frame, he sent a 1-0 fastball deep into the Florida night, ending the the season's longest game with just one swing.

HOME RUN!!!! A walk-off homer from Chris Thibideau gives the Ospreys a walk-off, 3-2 win over UNCW! #SWOOPLife https://t.co/hk8HzOI3WT
— UNF Baseball (@OspreyBSB) March 12, 2016

Prior to the 11^th inning the two teams combined for two, unearned runs in a duel between Osprey starting pitcher Bryan Baker and Ryan Foster of UNCW. The Seahawks took their first lead of the game in the top half of the 11^th on a sacrifice fly by Daniel Stack. The run was the first earned run of the season given up by Osprey closer Corbin Olmstead in 10 innings of work.

Baker outlasted his Seahawk counterpart, finishing with 7.2 innings pitched, his second longest outing of his career. He did not walk a batter and struck out five in the no decision. Beginning with the last batter in the fourth, he retired 10 batters in-a-row before a lead-off single in the top of the eighth. He lowers his season ERA to 1.14 and leads the A-Sun with 28 strikeouts.

Foster, who came into the game unbeaten in three starts, was equally as good. He surrendered just one hit in his first four innings of work. He did not allow an earned run and struck out five batters in 7.1 innings. A run off an Osprey fielding error in the top of the eighth got Foster off the hook, his first no-decision of 2016.

The Ospreys struggled to get runners home all night, leaving 11 runners on base, 10 in scoring position. Nick Karmeris and Patrick Ervin each put forth multiple-hit efforts on the night. Shortstop Kyle Brooks drove home the only other Osprey run in the bottom of the third on an RBI groundout.

Senior Daniel Moritz was credited with his first collegiate victory after working the final 0.2 innings.

The two teams will be back at Harmon Stadium tomorrow for the middle game of a three game series. The Ospreys will send lefty Tyler DuPont (0-0) to the mound and he will be opposed by right-hander Alex Royalty (3-0).