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University of North Florida Athletics

Karmeris throwing
Todd Drexler
Nick Karmers drove in the game-tying RBI and recorded his sixth outfield assist of the season.
1
North Florida UNF 16-11
2
Winner Kennesaw State KSU 10-17
North Florida UNF
16-11
1
Final
2
Kennesaw State KSU
10-17
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
North Florida UNF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 4 0
Kennesaw State KSU 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 5 1

W: Lovelady, Richard (3-3) L: Naylor, Matthew (3-3)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Scott Fitzgerald, Athletic Communications

Two Home Runs Sink @OspreyBSB in A-Sun Opener

Box Score (PDF)
KENNESAW, Ga. – Two home runs was all Kennesaw State (10-17, 1-0 A-Sun) needed to secure a 2-1 victory over North Florida (16-11, 0-1 A-Sun) in Friday night's A-Sun opener. Brennan Morgan hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning for the walk-off win.
 
After trailing 1-0 the majority of the contest, the Ospreys seemed poised for more late game fireworks. In the top of the ninth, senior Nick Karmeris produced an RBI ground out that scored Chris Thibideau, tying the game at one. The ninth inning run was the 14th for the Ospreys this season.
 
The rally was cut short as Owl reliever Richard Lovelady induced his second-straight ground ball to end the inning, stranding the go-ahead run on third base.
 
Morgan, who was charged with a passed ball in the top of the ninth that allowed Thibideau to get to third base and eventually score, got his shot at redemption in the bottom half. With one out, he worked the count full and lifted a ball over the left field wall to give the Owls their seventh-straight win over North Florida at Stillwell Stadium.
 
The walk-off blast spoiled another terrific outing by starting pitcher Bryan Baker who matched his season-high with 7.2 innings pitched. He struck out seven batters, scattered four hits and was charged with one earned run. He faced the minimum over the first three innings and retired 11 consecutive batters from the fourth to the eighth inning. In seven starts this season, the junior right-hander has kept opponents under two runs five times and struck out five or more batters in all but one game.
 
Baker's only mistake came in the top of the fourth inning when Corey Greeson hit his third home run of the year over the right field fence. The long ball gave the Owls a 1-0 advantage that stood all the way to the top of the ninth inning.
 
Juniors Patrick Ervin and Alex Merritt were responsible for all four of the Osprey hits on the night. Kennesaw State starting pitcher Chris Erwin matched Baker with seven strikeouts and threw 124 pitches before exiting in the ninth inning. It marked the third time this season the Ospreys were held to a season-low four hits. Coming into the game, North Florida led the A-Sun and ranked 12th in the country with 288 hits.
 
Karmeris, who drove in his 20th run of the season to tie the game up, recorded his sixth outfield assist in the top of the first inning when he gunned down Austin Upshaw trying to extend a single to a double.

Seven of the last eight games between North Florida and Kennesaw State have been decided by one run with three of the games won in walk-off fashion. Eight of the Ospreys 11 losses in 2016 have been by one run.
 
The three-game A-Sun opening series will continue tomorrow with the middle game scheduled for 2:00 p.m. The Ospreys will send lefty Tyler DuPont (2-0) to the mound and he will be opposed by right-hander Gabe Friese (2-1). 
 
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