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University of North Florida Athletics

Alex Merritt swing connects for one of his three hits in the game
Todd Drexler
2
Kennesaw State KSU 12-15, 1-1 ASUN
9
Winner North Florida UNF 19-11, 1-1 ASUN
Kennesaw State KSU
12-15, 1-1 ASUN
2
Final
9
North Florida UNF
19-11, 1-1 ASUN
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Kennesaw State KSU 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 7 3
North Florida UNF 0 0 5 4 0 0 0 0 X 9 14 0

W: German, Frank (5-0) L: Moore, AJ (2-3)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Jim Moyes

Ospreys Even Series vs Kennesaw State with 9-2 Victory

Final Score: North Florida 9, Kennesaw State 2
Location: Dusty Rhodes Field at Harmon Stadium (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Records: UNF 19-11, 1-1 ASUN | Kennesaw State 12-15, 1-1 ASUN
WP: Frank German (5-0) | LP: AJ Moore (2-3) | Save: None
PDF Boxscore

The Short Story: North Florida evened the weekend series, as well as their ASUN record, with a 9-2 victory over the visiting Kennesaw State Owls on Saturday afternoon at a sun-splashed Harmon Stadium. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Kennesaw State slugger Taylor Allum clubbed his 11th home run of the season in the game's opening inning to get the action started, the first home run ball served up by the Osprey's Frank German this season.
- UNF then took full advantage of KSU miscues by tallying five runs in the 3rd inning as the Ospreys batted around in the decisive frame.  Christian Diaz began the 3rd stanza by topping a ball near the plate.  KSU catcher Forrest Bramlett, in his haste to gun down Diaz at first base, fired his throw wide of the bag that resulted with Diaz speeding all the way to third base. After Mac Wilson drew a walk, Patrick Ervin delivered a sacrifice fly to center field scoring Diaz with the tying run. Chris Thibideau than hit a high chopper to third that he legged out for a hit.  The throw from the Owl third baseman was in the dirt and squirted a few feet into foul territory, allowing Wilson to scamper to third. Yahir Gurrola followed with a sharp come backer to the mound that very well could have been a double play to end the inning.  However, KSU starting pitcher AJ Moore's throw to second base sailed high over second base, scoring Wilson and giving Osprey's batsmen additional life at the plate. Alex Merritt then made the third KSU error of the inning really painful for the Owls as he laced a double down the left field line to drive in a pair of runs. Chris Berry put a punctuation mark on the rally delivering an RBI single to bring Merritt across the plate for the fifth run of the frame.
- The fourth inning for the Ospreys started quietly as the first two Ospreys batters made outs. Ervin then started the fireworks with his second hit of the game.  After Thibideau worked Moore for a walk, both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Gurrola singled driving in both base runners for his team-leading 26 and 27th RBI. Merritt capped the Osprey scoring with a 2-run clout to left field, his third hit of the game and first home run of the 2017 season.
- KSU was only able to touch up German for one additional run, on a bouncing single up the middle from Austin Upshaw in the 6th inning.
- After German's pitch count topped the century mark with two outs in the seventh inning, UNF's head coach Smoke Laval called upon senior Tyler Dupont in relief.  The crafty left hander surrendered just a pair of harmless singles the rest of the way in his scoreless 2 1/3 innings of work.

THIS 'n' THAT
- The Ospreys scored all nine of their runs in the 3rd and 4th innings as Osprey ace Frank German won his 5th decision without a loss.  Alex Merritt continued his torrid hitting of late with three hits, including his first home run of the 2017 season.
- The victory stopped the modest UNF losing streak at 2, and kept them in line to remain undefeated in weekend series this year
- Merritt, one triple shy of the cycle, notched his 5th three hit game of the season for UNF.  The senior from Ocala has been on a tear over his past eight games.  Merritt is 14 for his last 26 at bats, raising his team leading batting average up to .355. Toss in a pair of walks and Merritt reached base safely in all five of his plate appearances on Saturday
- In a series that has now expanded to 84 games, Kennesaw State leads the very even lifetime series at 44-40.
- Laval's decision to move Osprey shortstop Patrick Ervin back into the leadoff spot worked well for UNF.  Ervin was on base three times, two of those on base hits, and also chipped in a SAC FLY and a walk.  
- All nine Ospreys in the batting order recorded base hits on the afternoon, with Gurrola and Berry joining Merritt and Ervin in multi hit games with a pair of hits.
- Gurrola once again put on another fielding show for Osprey fans, the best of which was a head long dive near the foul line that robbed KSU's Jeremy Howell of a sure base hit in the 3rd inning.  Earlier, Gurrola made a diving catch of a sinking liner to rob Upshaw of a hit.
- Berry and Thibideau kept their on base streak alive at 18 with base hits in the contest.  
- The Ospreys have now won 6 of the 7 games in which German has started this season.  German has an ERA of a scant 1.73, while opponents are hitting a lowly .201 against the Tampa sophomore hurler.

WHATS NEXT
UNF and KSU will conclude the three game series with a 1:00 PM first pitch on Sunday at Harmon Stadium.  Fans are encouraged to use the Arena Garage parking area for the baseball game as lot 18 will be paid parking beginning at 1 PM for a  soccer game to be played later in the day at Hodges Stadium. In addition, following the game UNF Athletics will be hosting Ozzie's Osprey Egg Hunt on the field for kids 12 and under.
 
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