JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Stranded runners haunted UNF in an 8-5 loss in game one of the day, but seven unanswered runs propelled the Ospreys (5-2) past Fordham, 7-4, in the nightcap of a twinbill at Harmon Stadium Saturday, Feb. 23.
UNF's 5-2 start is its best start since beginning the 2013 season, 8-3. The 2013 Ospreys would finish with 40 wins.
Game One: Fordham 8, UNF 5
Pitchers of Record:
Win: Anthony Zimmerman (1-0)
Loss:
Will Ohme (0-1)
Save: Gabriel Karslo (1)
Line Scores:
Fordham | 8 R, 14 H, E, 8 LOB
UNF | 5 R, 9 H, E, 13 LOB
Behind the Line Score
- Fordham (1-5) took the lead in the top of the first on an RBI groundout from Alvin Melendez.
- Three singles, a hit by pitch and a pair of stolen bases added up to two Fordham runs in the third, putting the Rams ahead, 3-0.
- Tanner Murphy's legs helped UNF cut the deficit to 3-1 in the third. Murphy reached on a fielder's choice, swiped second and scored on a Jay Prather single to center field.
- Fordham's Jake Baker doubled down the line and moved up to third on an errant throw. Jake MacKenzie singled him home a batter later.
- Alex Reynolds fouled off seven pitches before doubling to lead off the fourth. Tanner Clark scored him on a sacrifice fly, making it 4-2 Fordham.
- Nick Labella homered last night and he did it again in the fifth, creating a 5-2 lead.
- Murphy answered with his second long ball of the year, a solo shot to open the fifth.
- UNF tied it up at five thanks to a wild sixth inning. UNF got three singles, two walks and a key wild pitch to even things up.
- But, the top of the seventh was the decisive one as Fordham uncorked two doubles and a single to go ahead for good, 8-5.
Statistical Leaders:
UNF
- Murphy | 2-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR
- Marabell | 2-for-4, R, BB
- Prather | 2-for-4, 2 RBI, BB
Fordham
- Tarabek | 3-for-5, R, 2 RBI
- Baker | 3-for-4, 2 R
- Zimmerman & Karslo | 4.0 innings of scoreless ball
Game Two: UNF 7, Fordham 4
Pitchers of Record:
Win:
Ethan Michaelis (2-1)
Loss: Marc Bisogno (0-1)
Save:
Trace Norkus (2)
Line Scores:
Fordham | 4 R, 7 H, E, 5 LOB
UNF | 7 R, 12 H, 2 E, 8 LOB
Behind the Line Score
- Justin Bardwell worked a 10-pitch at-bat before belting a three-run homer in the top of the first to open a 4-0 lead for the Rams.
- But, UNF responded with seven unanswered runs as the Osprey pitching settled in to only allow three hits for the final 6.2 innings of baseball.
- Murphy ignited a two-out rally in the first with a triple to right center. Max Law walked before Fordham mishandled a Jay Prather grounder, plating Murphy. Tanner May cashed in on the error with an RBI single to left.
- Austin Hurwitz and Blake Marabell combined for six hits in game two, helping fuel a pair of runs in the second and fifth inning.
- Prather made it 7-4 with an RBI double in the sixth.
- Norkus nailed down his second save of the year, fanning two while working around two singles in the seventh.
Statistical Leaders:
UNF
- Murphy | 3-for-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, 3B, SB
- Marabell | 3-for-3, 2 R
- Hurwitz | 3-for-3, R, RBI
- Michaelis/Norkus | 3.0 innings of two-hit baseball
Fordham
- Tarabek | 2-for-3
- Bardwell | 1-for-2, 3 RBI, R
Notes
- UNF left a season-high 13 runners on base in the first game.
- Weeks' five-game hitting streak to start the season was snapped.
- The Ospreys drew 10 walks in game one.
- Games one and two of the series combined to last six hours and 53 minutes.
- Ohme made his UNF debut.
- Murphy hit for the cycle if you combined his performances from both games.
Up Next
UNF looks to take three of four against Fordham when it hosts the Rams at 1:05 p.m. from Harmon Stadium tomorrow.