Box Score (PDF)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Behind a complete game from starting pitcher Nathan Disch, Jacksonville (18-12, 1-1 A-Sun) took the middle game of a three-game Atlantic Sun series, 6-2 at John Sessions Stadium. North Florida (20-13, 2-3 A-Sun) was limited to just four hits on the afternoon and snapped a five-game win streak against the Dolphins.
Disch was efficient, tossing 99 pitches and he retired 11 of the last 12 batters he faced. He scattered four hits and fanned four batters to earn his fourth victory of the season. He becomes the first opposing pitcher since Gabe Friese of Kennesaw State in last year's regular season finale to record a complete game against the Ospreys.
North Florida was held to a season-low four hits for the fourth time this season. The only two extra-base hits of the afternoon for the Ospreys came off the bats of
Keith Skinner and
Alex Merritt. Skinner collected his team-leading 11
th double of the year in the top of the first and
Alex Merritt doubled down the left field line with two outs in the fourth inning.
Contrary to yesterday's game, it was the Dolphins who plated first inning runs. A sac fly by Seth Dewitt and a RBI single by Angel Camancho gave Jacksonville a 2-0 lead after their first trip to the plate. The Ospreys tied the game up in the top of the fifth on a
Kyle Brooks two-out RBI single to right field. The batter prior,
Chris Thibideau scored his team-best 28
th run on an RBI ground out by
Patrick Ervin.
The Dolphins responded in the bottom half of the inning and took the lead for good on a nearly identical sequence as their first run rally. Dewitt's sacrifice fly broke the tie and Camancho followed it up with an RBI single through the left side to make the score 4-2.
Two defensive miscues in the bottom of the sixth pushed the Dolphin lead to 6-2. It marked the 12
th time this season the Ospreys committed two or more errors. In those games the Ospreys boast a record of 6-6.
The bullpen combination of
Adam Polansky and
Alex Smith combined for four innings of work. Both of the runs that Polansky surrendered were unearned and he scattered five hits in 2.2 innings. Smith threw 28 pitches in 1.1 innings, allowed a hit and struck out one. He has not allowed a run in 12 innings pitched this year.
With a walk in the top of the ninth inning,
Corbin Olmstead reached base for the 26
th straight game. The Ospreys who came into the weekend ranked fifth in the country in double plays, turned their 36
th of the season in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The rubber match of the three-game set against cross-town rival Jacksonville is scheduled for Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The Ospreys will have freshman lefty
Austin Drury (2-0) on the mound while the Dolphins will send out right-hander Spencer Stockton (3-2).