@OspreyBSB Erases Early Deficit, Takes Season Series vs. Bethune

Tuesday, April 5

Jacksonville, Fla.

6:00 p.m.

University of North Florida

18-12

Bethune Cookman

11-19

Bethune-Cookman

North Florida

Photo by: Megan Fitzgerald

@OspreyBSB Erases Early Deficit, Takes Season Series vs. Bethune

4/5/2016 10:39:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Scott Fitzgerald, Athletic Communications

Box Score (PDF)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida (18-12) wiped an early, four-run deficit and emerged victorious with a 12-6 win over Bethune-Cookman (11-19). The Ospreys scored in each of the last four innings to capture the season series against the Wildcats.

Bethune-Cookman scored three, first innings runs and added another in the top of the second to open up a 4-0 advantage. Three of the runs scored came with two outs including a two-run single in the first by Nathan Bond. The Ospreys went on to score the next nine runs and won their sixth-straight game at Harmon Stadium.
After scoring two runs on a defensive miscue in the bottom of the second, the Ospreys pulled within a run on an RBI ground out by Corbin Olmstead in the bottom of the third. The senior designated hitter is now tied second in the A-Sun with 37 RBIs this season. He singled and walked three times in the contest to extend his reached base streak to 23 games.

Junior Alex Merritt keyed the Ospreys go-ahead, four-run rally in the fifth by drawing a bases loaded walk to tie the game at four. A batter later, Chris Thibideau delivered the knock-out blow with a three-run, two out triple into the right center field gap. The three-bagger was his first of the season and he finished the night 2-for-5 with a run scored and three RBIs.

After the Wildcats racked up six hits in just two innings, right-hander Alex Smith came on and neutralized the Bethune-Cookman bats for the next 3.2 innings. He allowed just two hits and did not surrender a run for the sixth consecutive relief appearance. He struck out a career-high five batters and earned his first win of the 2016 season.

Making his 30^th start of the season, catcher Keith Skinner put together his third, three-hit game of the season. He finished the day 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. His double in the third inning was his team-best, ninth of the year. Already amongst the top 30 in the country in batting average, he moved his season average to .425 on the year.
Senior Kyle Brooks scored a season-high, three times and finished the night, 2-for-5. He passed former teammate Donnie Dewees for fourth place on the D-1 era career runs list and now has 145. Merritt also scored three times, matching a career high and finished the night, 2-for-2 with the game-tying RBI.
North Florida also flashed the leather and recorded its ninth errorless game of the season. The Ospreys also turned their 32^nd double play of the year in the top of the seventh. Coming into the game North Florida ranked ninth in the country in twin killings. From behind the dish, Skinner recorded his ninth caught stealing by, cutting down Bethune's top base-stealer in the top of the fourth.

The come-from-behind victory was the ninth of the year for the Ospreys. Against Bethune-Cookman, North Florida improves to 18-8 all-time had has won five of the last six meetings.

Wednesday will be the start of a five-game stint away from Harmon Stadium when the Ospreys travel to Tallahassee to take on Florida A&M. Right-hander Frank German (1-3) will make his fifth start on the mound for North Florida. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Moore Kittles Field.