Box Score (PDF)Postgame Interview - Corbin Olmstead (Audio)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Neither a 52-minute, ninth inning rain delay nor a two-run, ninth inning deficit could get in the way of a thrilling, 12-11, North Florida (8-7) victory over UNC Wilmington (9-5). Senior
Corbin Olmstead delivered a walk-off, bases clearing triple in the bottom of the ninth to complete a three-game sweep of the Seahawks.
The Seahawks were looking to put the finishing touches on a ninth inning comeback of their own before a 52-minute rain delay deterred their plans. UNCW scored six runs in their final three turns at the plate, including a three-run ninth, to take a 9-8 lead. At one point, the Seahawks trailed, 8-3 before capturing the lead in their final turn at the plate.
Olmstead, who surrendered the go-ahead run on the mound in the top-half of the inning, got his chance at redemption at the plate.
Alex Merritt led the inning off with by drawing one of 10 free passes issued by the UNCW pitching staff.
Patrick Ervin singled and another walk was drawn by
Kyle Brooks to load the bases. With one out, Olmstead and the Ospreys found themselves down to their last strike as the rain once again started to pick up. He drove a 2-2 fastball from Seahawk reliever Brandon Mulier into the gap in right center that dropped in between both outfielders and scored all three runners, sending Harmon Stadium into a frenzy of disbelief.
The walk-off victory was the second in the last two days for the Ospreys. Olmstead was the victor on the mound and at the plate, earning his first win of the season. The triple was the first of the year and sixth of his career. He finished the day 2-for-6 with two RBIs. After the lead changed hands twice in the first two innings, the Ospreys opened up the commanding 8-3 lead in the bottom of the third thanks to a four-run rally.
Christian Diaz kicked off the four-run spurt with his fourth home run of the spring. He now has hit four long balls in nine games for the Ospreys.
Two more runs came across on a
Chris Thibideau RBI double down the right field line which was followed up by a
Kyle Brooks RBI bunt single. Brooks, who scored the game's winning run in the ninth, now has 199 career hits. He is looking to become the 11
th member of the Osprey 200-hit club. Brooks, the quintessential, lead-off man in the game, walked three times and scored two runs. He drew a total of six walks in the three-game series.
Four of the 16 Osprey hits came off the bat of
Keith Skinner who homered in the bottom of the first inning to give North Florida its initial advantage in the contest. He went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. In the process, he raised his batting average to a team-best, .441
Ervin had his first, three-hit performance of 2016, finished the day, 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. He was lifted for pinch-runner,
Bubba Olivera in the bottom of the ninth. Olivera went on to score the game-tying run after also serving as the game-tying run in Friday's 11
th inning walk-off win.
Osprey starting pitcher
Austin Drury, pitching on four days rest, tossed five innings and was responsible for five of the Seahawk runs. He struck out one batter and left with the lead in the sixth inning.
The Ospreys will begin preparation for a pair of mid-week games beginning on Tuesday in Daytona against Bethune-Cookman. North Florida will be back at home on Wednesday to host South Florida at 6:00 p.m.
