Box Score (PDF)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – North Florida scored in all but two innings and racked up 16 hits in a 13-1 road victory over Bethune-Cookman (5-11). The Ospreys have now won four-in-a-row and improve to 10-8 on the season.
 
The Ospreys never trailed and broke through with a five-run second inning. It marked the fifth time this season North Florida has posted five or more runs in a single inning. With the bases loaded, Nick Karmeris was hit by a pitch to plate the first Osprey run. After a Corbin Olmstead RBI ground out, Dakota Higdon delivered a two-out RBI single that eventually scored three runs, aided by a Wildcat throwing error.
 
Karmeris and Olmstead each had a game-high three RBIs to lead the Osprey offense. In the top of the seventh inning, Karmeris blasted his third home run of the year. He finished the day 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Olmstead extended his hit streak to 11 games and went 3-for-5 on the evening.
 
Senior Kyle Brooks entered his name into Osprey record books with a base hit to center field in the top of the 5^th. The base knock was career-hit number 200 for the North Florida shortstop as he became the 11^th member of the Osprey 200-hit club. He reached base for the 12^th straight game and was 1-for-5 with a walk.
 
Making his third start of the year, sophomore Matt Vaka pitched six strong innings allowing one run on five hits. He struck out three batters and walked none. He sat down the final seven batters he faced.
 
All but one player in the Osprey starting lineup recoded a hit in tonight's contest. Alex Merritt and Chris Thibideau each put forth three-hit performances. Merritt had his second-straight multiple-hit performance going 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Thibideau continues to swing a red-hot bat and now has 10 hits in his last four games. He finished the night, 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
 
The Osprey bullpen comprised of Austin Howze and Alex Smith closed the door with three scoreless innings. Howze pitched the two innings before giving way to Smith in the 9^th. The duo gave up just one hit each.
 
The North Florida defense, which came into the game with the sixth most double plays in the country (20), matched a season-high with three more tonight. From right field, Karmeris started the second double play of the game in the bottom of the fourth with his team-best, fourth outfield assist.
 
The Ospreys improve to 17-7 all-time against Bethune-Cookman and have now won four-straight games against the Wildcats, tied for the longest streak of the series that began in 1989.
 
The Ospreys will be back home tomorrow to host USF at Harmon Stadium. Freshman Frank German will get the start for the Ospreys. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.