Box Score (PDF)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida (25-14) rattled off its 10
th-straight win at Harmon Stadium, thanks to a 4-3, walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth against in-state foe, UCF (20-19). Senior
Dakota Higdon scored the game-winning run coming around all the way from second base on a UCF throwing error.
It what looked to be an inning-ending double play ball on a slow comebacker to the pitcher, the Ospreys took advantage of an errant throw by the catcher attempting to complete a 1-2-3 twin killing. Instead of extra innings, the throw to first base sailed into right field enabling Higdon to cross for the winning run. The walk-off victory is the fifth of the season for North Florida who earned a split in the season series with the Knights.
Higdon put the finishing touches on a productive night at the plate. He drove in two of the Ospreys' three previous runs and reached base a total of four times in the contest. He finished the night, 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. His double in the ninth inning nearly won the game as it two-hopped the wall down right field line and put the potential winning run on third base.
The wild finish was another chapter in a number of odd scoring sequences for both teams on the night. The Ospreys broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fourth when left-handed hitting
Dalton Board hit a chopper to third base that hung long enough in the air for him to beat out an infield single without drawing a throw. In the process,
Nick Karmeris scored from third base to give the Osprey a one-run advantage.
In the very next inning, the Knights tied the game when Austin Griffin was ruled out by virtue of the infield fly rule with the bases loaded. The ball was never caught by an Osprey fielder and Luke Hablin exercised his right to advance to home, scoring the tying run. Officially, the play went down as a sacrifice fly, RBI for Austin Griffin.
The Osprey bullpen went in full lockdown mode for the final five innings, allowing just two hits. Senior
Daniel Moritz did the bulk of the work, tossing a career-high, 3.1 innings of one-hit baseball. He struck out three batters and threw only 36 pitches. He eventually gave way to right-hander
Alex Smith who worked the final 1.2 innings, allowing only one hit. He was credited with his second victory of the season and has yet to give up a run in 14.2 innings pitched this season.
In his second start of the season, sophomore Brad Dppermann struck out five batters in four innings. His lone mistake of the night came when Ryan Crile homered in the top of the third to give the Knights an initial, 2-0 advantage. Two of the three home runs this season by Crile have come against the Ospreys.
Board was the other multiple hit performer for the Ospreys, who was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Five different Ospreys accounted for the remaining five hits as North Florida out-hit the Knights, 10-7. When producing 10 or more hits, the Ospreys are 19-3 this season.
Senior
Corbin Olmstead walked twice, extending his reached base streak to 32 games.
Defensively, catcher
Keith Skinner picked off pinch-runner Josh Moser in the top of the eighth who caught leaning at first base. Skinner has successfully picked off two runners this season in addition to the 10 he has thrown out trying to steal.
The Ospreys will wrap up the midweek on Wednesday night with a road contest at Savannah State. Sophomore
Matt Vaka (2-1) will be on the mound for the Ospreys and he will be opposed by Greg Holloman (0-5). First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Tiger Field.
