University of North Florida
32-17, 10-6
USC Upstate
20-26, 3-12
@OspreyBSB Clinches Postseason Berth in Dominating Fashion
5/14/2016 12:28:00 AM | Baseball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Powered by another explosive offensive output and a dominating starting pitching effort by Bryan Baker, North Florida (32-17, 10-6 A-Sun) took the opening game of a three-game series against USC Upstate (20-26, 3-12 A-Sun), 13-4 at Harmon Stadium. The victory clinches a berth in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament for the fourth-straight year.
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The North Florida offense collected 18 hits, the most against an A-Sun opponent this season. North Florida scored the first 11 runs of the game and the Ospreys scored in all but one turn at the plate in the onslaught.
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Baker didn't need much assistance in his 12th start of the season as he did not allow a single run in 5.2 innings. He struck out eight batters including fanning the side in the bottom of the third. He threw 104 pitches to earn his fourth victory of the year. His strikeout total was the second-highest of the season from the Osprey ace.
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After a record-tying night on Tuesday for Alex Merritt, he supplied much of the Osprey offense in tonight's contest, going 4-for-4 with two home runs, four runs scored and a career-high five RBIs. He broke the game open in the third inning with a three-run home run to left center. He then capped a three-run rally in the fifth with a two-run shot off the roof of the batting facility in left field. In his last three games he is 9-for-12 with seven runs scored six RBIs.
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Senior Corbin Olmstead matched Merritt's record-tying night from Tuesday with a 5-for-6 effort at the plate. He is the 13th player in the North Florida D-1 era to record five hits in a game. He hit his team-leading 11th home run of the season to lead off the bottom of the fifth. He is now tied with Matt Schneider (1997-99) for 2nd all-time with 34 career home runs. Olmstead drove in three runs on the night reaching the 50-RBI plateau in 2016 for the first time in his career.Make it two for Merritt!!! Alex Merritt hits his second HR of the game!! Ospreys now lead USC Upstate, 9-0!!! https://t.co/xoljQqgh1M
— UNF Baseball (@OspreyBSB) May 14, 2016
Senior Nick Karmeris had his team-leading 20th multiple-hit game and went 3-for-6 with two runs scored and an RBI. Lead-off man Kyle Brooks reached base five times and was 1-for-2 with two runs scored. He walked three times and was hit by a pitch for the 27th time in his career, tying the North Florida all-time record.HOME RUN!!! Corbin Olmstead his 11th goner of the year! Gives the Ospreys a 7-0 lead!!
— UNF Baseball (@OspreyBSB) May 14, 2016
https://t.co/1UeSzrIaSt
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The Ospreys received a combined 2.1 innings of scoreless relief from Anthony Delaney and Austin Howze to finish out the game. Delaney, working his second-straight game out of the bullpen, struck out one and retired all four batters he faced.
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The two teams will be back at Harmon Stadium on Saturday for the middle game of a three-game series presented by Bank of England. North Florida will have freshman lefty Austin Drury (4-1) on the mound and he will be opposed by right-hander Zach Mitchell (5-3). First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Prior to the game, the Ospreys will honor their six seniors, Kyle Brooks, Dakota Higdon, Nick Karmeris, Corbin Olmstead, Daniel Moritz and Keith Skinner. The ceremony will begin at approximately 12:40 p.m.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Baker, Bryan (4-4)
L: JACKSON, Tyler (4-3)
Batting:
2B: FOWLKES, James 1 ; GILBERT, Hunter 1
RBI: FICKAS, Daniel 1 ; FOWLKES, James 2
SF: FICKAS, Daniel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SHIMKO, J.J. 1 ; FOWLKES, James 1 ; KRIDER, Zach 1 ; GILBERT, Hunter 1
SB: GAUDARD, Pat 1
HBP: GAUDARD, Pat 1 ; MILLER, Jordan 1
Batting:
2B: Merritt, Alex 1
HR: Olmstead, Corbin 1 ; Merritt, Alex 2
RBI: Olmstead, Corbin 3 ; Karmeris, Nick 1 ; Merritt, Alex 5 ; Olivera, Bubba 1
SH: Skinner, Keith 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brooks, Kyle 2 ; Skinner, Keith 1 ; Olmstead, Corbin 2 ; Karmeris, Nick 2 ; Thibideau, Chris 2 ; Merritt, Alex 4 ; Berry, Chris 1 ; Olivera, Bubba 1
HBP: Brooks, Kyle 1
