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University of North Florida Athletics

Karmeris
Todd Drexler
7
Winner North Florida UNF 21-14
5
South Fla. USF 16-17
Winner
North Florida UNF
21-14
7
Final
5
South Fla. USF
16-17
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
North Florida UNF 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 1 7 9 0
South Fla. USF 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 9 1

W: Howze, Austin (3-0) L: CLARKSON, Michael (0-3) S: Olmstead, Corbin (5)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Scott Fitzgerald, Athletic Communications

Karmeris Leads Grand Comeback, @OspreyBSB Sweeps USF

Box Score (PDF)
TAMPA, Fla. – North Florida (21-14) completed the season sweep of USF (16-17) by scoring seven unanswered runs in a 7-5 victory at USF Baseball Stadium. The Ospreys scored six runs in the top of the fifth, capped by a grand slam by senior Nick Karmeris.
 
With two runs already across in the game-deciding frame and trailing 5-2, Karmeris gave the Ospreys the lead with one swing. The long ball was the seventh of the season for the North Florida right fielder. The grand slam was the third of the season for the Ospreys and the big rally was the 10th time this year North Florida has compiled five or more runs in an inning.
 
The Osprey bullpen delivered another lights out performance, tossing 5.1 innings of shutout baseball. Junior righty Austin Howze was credited with his third victory of 2016 after 2.2 innings of one-hit baseball. Relievers Alex Smith and Corbin Olmstead both came up clutch in big spots late in the game. Smith recorded the final two outs of the seventh inning, stranding the tying run on third base. Olmstead, who notched his fifth save of the year, struck out the final two batters of the eighth with runners on first and second.
 
Smith added another scoreless inning to his season total. He has pitched 13 innings this year and has yet to surrender a run. Olmstead threw the final 1.2 innings and struck out four batters. The save was the 20th of his career which takes over sole possession of second place on the program's all-time saves list.
 
Things looked grim for the North Florida after a four-run fourth inning by USF. The Bulls hit two home runs in the inning including a two-out, three-run shot by Joe Genord. The third home run of the year by the right-fielder gave the Bulls a commanding 5-0 advantage. It marked the 10th time this season an Osprey opponent has scored four or more runs in an inning.
 
The six-run rally in the fifth included an RBI single from Keith Skinner who went 2-for-3 with two runs and two walks. He ups his average to an Atlantic Sun leading, .405 and in the process registered his 24th RBI of the year. Junior Alex Merritt put together his fifth, three-hit performance of the season. He was 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. He gave the Ospreys a two-run cushion in the top of the ninth with a two-out RBI single up the middle scoring Skinner.
 
In both games against USF this season, the Ospreys erased significant deficits. Back on March 16, they scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning in a 7-6 walk-off victory. The five-run deficit overcome tonight was the largest of the 11 come-from-behind victories of the season for North Florida.
 
The Ospreys have now won three-straight games against USF and complete the first season sweep of the Bulls in four tries. They now own an 8-6 advantage in the all-time series that began in 2006.
 
The reached base streaks of Olmstead and Chris Thibideau both were kept alive in the contest. Olmstead's walk in the ninth moved his steak to 28 games and Thibideau now has reached safely in 21 straight games after a walk in the fifth.
 
The Ospreys will return to the diamond on Friday night when they host Stetson beginning a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference series presented by Pepsi. The opening game will feature concession specials in celebration of Tax Day. A hot dog and soft drink/beer combination will be specially priced at $4.15. For both weekend games, fans can play "Baseball Bingo" for prizes.
 
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