JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Junior Antonio Franzese tossed his first career complete game in leading the University of North Florida baseball team to a classic 5-4 win over FIU on Monday at Harmon Stadium.

 

Franzese struck out four and allowed four runs on nine hits. After UNF (9-8) scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead for good, he shut out the Golden Panthers for the final two innings. He found a bit of trouble in the top of the eighth after he walked the leadoff batter, who ended up on third base. But Franzese put the stake in the rally, getting FIU’s Anthony Boza to fly out to center for the third out.

 

Lamaar Guy got a one-out pinch hit single for FIU (8-12) in the top of the ninth, but Franzese went back to work in the next at-bat, getting FIU’s Corey Lazano to strike out looking. Sophomore catcher Michael Gropper sealed the win for the Ospreys when he threw out Guy at second trying to steal.

 

Senior Chad Knight led UNF by going 2-for-4 with three RBIs, a double and a run scored. Right after Knight knocked in freshman Sam Perry on an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game, sophomore Preston Hale catapulted a triple down the right field line to drive in Knight to put the Ospreys up for good.

 

UNF first got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when senior Mike P. Smith blasted a double to left that allowed senior Travis Martin to score. Sophomore Andrew Hannon was also waved in but was thrown out at the plate on an agonizingly close play.

 

Knight gave the Ospreys a 3-1 lead in the next inning when his double drove in sophomore Ryan Lowe and senior Andy Warren.

 

Trouble struck in the top of the seventh for UNF when FIU took a 4-3 lead with three runs. The Golden Panthers had two consecutive bunts that were laid down and weren’t fielded in time by UNF fielders, which sparked FIU’s rally.

 

UNF’s game-winning rally in the seventh was set up when Lowe reached base when he was hit by a pitch. Perry pinch ran for Lowe and was able to eventually make it to third on a wild pitch.

 

Hale finished 2-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to six games. It was his seventh multiple hit game this season.

 

The win snaps UNF’s four-game losing streak and improves its non-conference record to 6-2. The Ospreys are now 7-1 at Harmon Stadium this season.

 

UNF will return to action at 6 p.m. on Wednesday for a non-conference road match up with Troy.