Late Runs Cost Ospreys Against Dukes
3/5/2010 11:49:00 PM | Baseball
Boxscore
Jacksonville, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team surrendered nine runs in the final four innings of the game on Friday night to fall 12-6 to James Madison in the first game of the Kennel Club Classic.
Jacksonville, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team surrendered nine runs in the final four innings of the game on Friday night to fall 12-6 to James Madison in the first game of the Kennel Club Classic.
Senior Michael Kelly took the loss for the Ospreys, surrendering six runs – five earned runs on six hits. Aside from the runs, Kelly put together one of his best performances of the season. The Mayo, Fla. native struck out a career high nine batters in a season-high six innings of work. Kelly struck out at least one batter in each of the innings he pitched.
The Ospreys bullpen surrendered just two hits, but gave up six runs. Collectively, the bull pen walked five batters, hit three more batters and threw three wild pitches.
“The pitchers didn't do the job, that's all there is to it,” head coach Dusty Rhodes remarked after the game. “We can swing the bats and stay with some teams, but our pitching just hasn't been there and it hasn't done the job. We didn't do it tonight and that is my fault. I brought them here and I am supposed to make them work, but the pitching just didn't get the job done.”
Offensively, North Florida collected 10 hits in the game, marking the sixth consecutive game that the Ospreys have posted double-digit hits. Senior Preston Hale led the team with three hits. Hale was a home run shy of the cycle, posting a single, a double and a triple in the game. In addition, Hale scored two of the Ospreys six runs on the night.
Freshman Ryan Roberson drove in three of the UNF runs on the night. He entered the game with the bases loaded and delivered a base-clearing double in his first collegiate at bat. In his second plate appearance of the night Roberson recorded his second double of the game.
The Dukes were the first team to score plating a pair of runs in the second inning. After a lead off double, JMU attempted to move the runner with a sacrifice bunt. The throw from third was off the mark allowing the lead runner to score and the batter to successful reach second. A hit and run scored the second run of the inning as the Dukes hit the ball through the left side of the infield. The runner moved to second on a balk and stole third to move 90 feet from home. With two outs, the runner at third tried to steal home, but catcher Kyle Dahl covered the plate for the final out of the inning.
The Ospreys tied the score in the game in the bottom of the third inning. A one-out single to center field by Andrew Hannon started the rally for UNF. Hannon stole second base to move into scoring position. With two outs, Hale hit a ground ball to second base. The JMU second baseman threw the ball into the UNF dugout allowing Hannon to score from second and Hale to reach second base. Andrew Karmeris followed with an infield single to third base to give the Ospreys runners on the corners. The Dukes looked like they would escape the inning with a strikeout, but a wild pitch on strike three allowed Hale to score from third and left UNF with runners on first and second. A bases loaded strikeout ended the inning, but the Ospreys had tied the score at 2-2 after three complete innings of play.
James Madison regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning. A lead off walk started things off for the Dukes and the batter stole second to move into scoring position. Back-to-back strikeouts by Kelly left a runner on second with two outs. A single to center field was good enough to score the runner from second. A fielder's choice ended the inning, leaving the Ospreys on the wrong side of a 3-2 score.
JMU extended its lead with one swing in the top of the sixth. With two runners on and two outs, James Madison hit a deep fly ball that barely cleared the fence to give the visitors a 6-2 advantage.
UNF threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning. Back-to-back walks started off the inning for the Ospreys and a fielder's choice left North Florida with runners on the corners. A stolen base put two runners in scoring position, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning and the Osprey threat.
James Madison added three runs in the top of the seventh inning. Back-to-back walks started off the inning and a wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position. An RBI single through the left side of the infield increased the Dukes lead to five. A wild pitch moved the trail runner to second base. A ground ball to third recorded the first out, but a single through the left side of the infield scored two runners to give JMU a 9-2 lead.
The Ospreys rallied to cut the lead scoring four runs on three hits in the bottom of the seventh inning to cut the deficit to 9-6. David Eldredge singled through the right side of the infield and moved second as Hale singled. The bases were loaded as Karmeris was hit by a pitch. Justin Preckajlo walked to score the first run of the inning and Roberson's pinch-hit double to center field cleared the bases and trimmed the JMU lead to three.
However, North Florida would get no closer as the bullpen allowed three runs in the top of the eighth inning without allowing a hit. The Ospreys walked three batters and hit two other batters in the inning. In addition, UNF had a wild pitch and an error on a failed pick off attempt. Also, James Madison scored a pair of runs in the inning thanks to sacrifice flies.
North Florida continues play in the Kennel Club Classic on Saturday, March 6, with a game against AlcornState. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m., but prior to the game the UNF Athletics will honor head coach Dusty Rhodes by naming the field after the Hall of Fame coach. The field dedication ceremony is slated to begin at 12:30 p.m.
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