Live Blog: BankFirst Baseball Challenge

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Welcome back to my blog of the BankFirst Baseball Challenge. I'm Eric Scott the media relations guru for UNF Baseball, and I'll take you through today's game against Mississippi State. As always, feel free to e-mail with questions about the game by sending an e-mail to eric.scott@unf.edu.

You know, I was thinking today about the start of the season and how hectic things really are. It really hit home last night when I was literally falling asleep as I was trying to post a story on our women's swimming and diving team (which is performing quite well at the CCSA Championships - read about it here).

My combined sleep this week not counting yesterday (Monday-Thursday) was probably about 16 hours (I know my girlfriend is reading that and getting an angry look on her face right now). That would be due to all of the preparation and stress that goes into putting on a show. And to think, we haven't even had our first home game yet!

Besides me, everyone else seemed overly anxious and stressed. But once the first pitch was thrown, it seemed like everyone let out a big sigh.

Today will be a big game for UNF. The Ospreys will take on traditional SEC power Mississippi State - a team the Ospreys defeated two of three games last season in Jacksonville, so the Bulldogs will look to exact some revenge on the Ospreys. MSU beat Northern Illinois 8-1 in the night cap yesterday.

This should be another great game, and I know the team is ready to make itself known across the nation once again. Links to live stats and live video are at the top of the page. I hope you all take advantage of those, don't forget about me!

Let's get ready for some baseball!

11:07 a.m. CT: Here's UNF's lineup for today:

1. Robbie Collier       DH
2. Brian Wilson          CF
3. Preston Hale          RF
4. TJ Thompson        2B
5. Ryan Puskar          1B
6. Andrew Karmeris 3B
7. David Eldredge       C
8. Michael Smith        LF
9. Sam Perry              SS
Phil Rorabaugh         P

You'll notice today's lineup is a little different than yesterday. Partly because Coach Rhodes is still trying to find out what works, but also because unfortunately Andrew Hannon fractured his hand last night after taking a fastball in on the hands. The prognosis is he'll be out for a few weeks. Hopefully it will be a speedy recovery for him.

11:26 a.m. CT: Don't get me wrong, I love listening to AC/DC, especially the song "For Those About To Rock", but it just does not go well with infield/outfield (which what Mississippi State is using). I've been conditioned so much that I just does not seem normal to watch a team take infield without bluegrass playing. Coach Rhodes has a point - it really does set a good rhythm when you're trying to take crisp infield.

11:36 a.m. CT: I honestly like the infield/outfield music the MSU staff is giving up better than the stuff the Bulldogs use. So far, we've gotten the organ song from The Sandlot, the Peanuts theme song and the song always used in Westerns when there is a gun duel.

The Ospreys are looking pretty good so far. They look well-prepared and error free.

A little fashion news for all of you - UNF is wearing all-gray, and MSU is wearing white pants with maroon jerseys.

12:04 p.m. CT: We're ready to go here at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville, Miss. The national anthem has just been played and Robbie Collier is standing on deck. It's not usual you see a DH leadoff, but so much depth in the outfield, Coach Rhodes is trying to be creative in working in all of his outfielders. The Ospreys are also trying to find a good, consistent leadoff hitter.

12:11 p.m. CT: This might be a long game. Brian Wilson just reached base, and so far, MSU freshman starting LHP Nick Routt has thrown a pickoff to first four times.

12:14 p.m. CT: The Ospreys just ended their first inning after consecutive groundouts. Now it's time for RHP Phil Rorabaugh to go to work against the Bulldogs. He pitched against them last year in relief in the season opener at the Baseball Grounds. He gave up just one hit in 2.0 innings of work.

12:21 p.m. CT: MSU just put runners on second and third after Luke Adkins hit a single to right field, which allowed Mark Goforth to take third. If Preston Hale was just a foot over to the left, Goforth would have been roasted at third. Adkins was also able to take second on throw. There is one out with cleanup hitter Connor Powers at the plate.

12:24 p.m. CT: Rorabaugh just got Powers to whiff on a full-count changeup. Coach Rhodes said if Rorabaugh's changeup is working today, it could be a good day for the Ospreys.

12:28 p.m. CT: UNF just got out of a jam in the bottom of the first. After Rorabaugh walked MSU's Ryan Duffy to load the bases, he got Jarrod Parks to pop out to Brian Wilson in center field to end the inning. Whew!

12:35 p.m. CT: The Ospreys have something cooking ... runners on first and second with no outs. It looks like Coach Rhodes might have David Eldredge bunt to move the runners over. Of course just as I say that, he gets two strikes. No worries though, because he was just hit by the pitch, and now the bases are loaded for Michael Smith.

Smith is dressed today after wearing a polo and jeans in the dugout yesterday. He was running late when we were leaving Jacksonville because he was stuck in class, and someone was supposed to grab his bag for him. Fortunately he got his uniform overnighted.

12:40 p.m. CT: The Ospreys just grabbed the first lead of the game on a Sam Perry sacrifice fly that allowed Ryan Puskar to score. UNF is up 1-0.

12:46 p.m. CT: I don't know about all of you, but for my money, I don't think are any better numbers than 6-4-3. UNF just turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the bottom of the second inning and lead 1-0. UNF has three hits, while MSU has two.

12:51 p.m. CT: The Bulldogs just decided to return the double play favor. Brian Wilson led off the inning with a single but was doubled off in the next at-bat when Preston Hale lined out to the first baseman. TJ Thompson ended the inning after flying out.

I don't know if any of you have seen the Saturday Night Live skit with Christopher Walken and Blue Oyster Cult and he says, "Fellas, I gotta have more cowbell!" Apparently the fans here at MSU got the memo because are crazy about ringing those things after every positive Bulldog play.

12:59 p.m. CT: You know, at least defensively, I really think the rundown is the most exciting play in baseball. Fortunately for the Ospreys, it turned out well. They were able to get Ryan Collins caught in one after he led off the inning with a triple. Luke Adkins hit a grounder to Andrew Karmeris at third, who promptly gunned it to David Eldredge, who was able to chase down Collins. Now there are two outs with a runner on second.

1:02 p.m. CT: This game has been quite exciting so far. Phil Rorabaugh was able to get out of another jam when he got cleanup hitter Connor Powers to swing and miss at an offspeed pitch in the dirt to strike him out and end the inning.

1:06 p.m. CT: UNF just went down 1-2-3 in the top of the fourth. There have been some nice hits so far, but both defenses have been able to pull their respective teams out of jams so far. Personally, the low scoring, one-run baseball games are my favorite. There's nothing better than the suspense of it all combined with masterful pitching and great fielding.

1:13 p.m. CT: Rorabaugh just cruised through an easy bottom of the fourth. He just ended the inning after getting MSU to ground into two straight fielder's choices. UNF still leads 1-0 and has four hits, while MSU has three hits.

1:18 p.m. CT: UNF just went 1-2-3 in the top of the fifth. I know I said I love close games, but I might take that back. We need more runs!

1:26 p.m. CT: Another exciting play on defense ... Phil Rorabaugh just picked off MSU's Ryan Collins at first base. I guess MSU head coach John Cohen wasn't too happy about it, because he sure did light into the first base umpire.

1:28 p.m. CT: UNF just got out of the inning after a nice fielder's choice play at second base. This has shaped up to be a classic so far. UNF leads 1-0, and both teams have four hits. Rorabaugh committed an error last inning when his throw to first pulled Ryan Puskar off the base.

1:32 p.m. CT: Brian Wilson is having a solid day. He is 3-for-3 so far after leading the top of the sixth with a single hit on a rope to left field.

1:33 p.m. CT: The inning was ended pretty quickly. Preston Hale grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, and TJ Thompson grounded out.

1:42 p.m. CT: MSU just went up 3-1 on a three-run home run by Russ Sneed. Rorabaugh had just struck out Frank Raydow on three-straight curve balls, but he hung one up on Sneed, who hit it over the left center fence.

UNF has just brought it in RHP John Frawley to relieve Rorabaugh. Rorabaugh's final line is 5.2 innings pitched, 7 hits, 3 runs and four strikeouts.

1:46 p.m. CT: UNF just got out of the inning when Frawley got MSU's Ryan Powers to ground out to Andrew Karmeris at third. MSU got three runs on three hits that inning. UNF will have Ryan Puskar, Karmeris and David Eldredge up in the top of the seventh.

1:55 p.m. CT: Sam Perry just struck out on an offspeed pitch by MSU pitcher Nick Routt. Ryan Puskar reached base on a walk, but Andrew Karmeris flew out and David Eldredge struck out. MSU still leads 3-1 through six and a half.

2:04 p.m. CT: Man it's a lot better writing this blog when I'm reporting good news! Unfortunately, I don't have any yet. The Bulldogs just tacked on another run after Connor Powers hit an RBI single to left field.

Now they just went up 6-1 after Ryan Duffy hit a two-run double down the right field line.

2:11 p.m. CT: The Ospreys just got out of the inning after Frawley struck out MSU's Frank Rawdow. UNF will have Robbie Collier, Brian Wilson and Preston Hale up in the top of the eighth.

2:15 p.m. CT: UNF still has not been able to figure out MSU's Routt. The Ospreys just went down after Preston Hale grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.

RHP Spencer Jones has now entered the game for UNF in the bottom of the eighth.

2:28 p.m. CT: It'll all be down to this for UNF. The Ospreys trail 7-1 after the Bulldogs grabbed another run in the bottom of the eighth after a bloop to left dropped inside the line.

MSU has now brought in its closer, Greg Houston. Not to give a compliment or anything to an opponent, but Houston's song choice is fantastic. They're playing "Warehouse" by Dave Matthews Band - one of my favorite bands of all time.

2:34 p.m. CT: The Ospreys have runners on first and second in the top of the ninth after TJ Thompson had a single to left and Ryan Puskar walked. Andrew Karmeris is now at the plate.

2:38 p.m. CT: The game has just ended after David Eldredge lined out to short on a screamer. After the Ospreys led for five and a half innings, MSU's Ryan Powers hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to make the difference.

Thank you for reading the blog today. Sorry there wasn't a better result, but you can't win them all. Hopefully the Ospreys will be charged up tomorrow and will come out swinging hard.

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