UNF Ends Season at A-Sun Tournament
5/29/2010 12:39:00 AM | Baseball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The University of North Florida baseball team survived a pair of rain delays that lasted over two ours, but could not survive a ninth inning rally by Jacksonville as the Ospreys dropped a 9-8 game to the Dolphins in an elimination game at the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament.
The game was initially delayed for two and a half hours due to inclement weather in the Nashville area. Once the game started, the two teams played three and a half innings before a second two-hour weather delay halted play.
Offensively, North Florida outhit Jacksonville 14-to-6 on the night, but the Ospreys were hurt by three errors in the first three innings of play. UNF fell behind 7-2, but rallied to take an 8-7 lead, scoring five runs after the second delay.
Three Ospreys had three hits on the night, led by senior Justin Preckajlo who belted two home runs in the game. It was the second two-homer game for Preckajlo this season. His last multi-home run game came on the road against UCF on March 3.
Senior David Eldredge and junior Michael Smith each had three hits apiece, while senior T.J. Thompson added two base hits. Eldredge had a double in the game, while junior Sam Perry made his only hit of the game count as he launched a solo home run onto the batting cage behind left field.
On the mound, starter John Atteo earned a no decision. The senior allowed just one hit in 2.1 innings of work, surrendering seven runs, but just a pair of earned runs. The southpaw surrendered three walks and was hurt by three errors by the defense.
Junior Robbie Collier worked 4.0 scoreless innings. He scattered two hits, walking one and striking out two. Collier gave way to junior Casey Medlen who took the hard luck loss for the Ospreys. Medlen scattered a pair of hits and was responsible for the tying and go ahead runs. He walked four – two intentional walks – and struck out one. Senior Kris Linster entered the game in the ninth inning with the bases loaded and one out. The sidearm hurler induced a ground ball that potentially could have been a double play ball, but the Ospreys were unable to turn the double play.
North Florida was the first team to score, plating a runner in the top first inning. T.J. Gavlik and Preckajlo led off the game with back-to-back walks. A fielder's choice left the Ospreys with two runners on base and two outs. Smith singled up the middle scoring Preckajlo from second base and putting the designated visiting team ahead 1-0.
Jacksonville responded with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. The lead off batter was hit by a pitch and a fielding error allowed another base runner. A fly ball recorded the first out of the inning, but left runners on the corners. The Dolphins' runner on first attempted to steal second. The throw was off the mark allowing the runner to advance all the way to third and the lead runner to score easily. A single scored the runner on third base and put the Ospreys behind 2-1.
The Ospreys tied the score in the top of the third inning at 2-2. Preckajlo hit his team-leading 16th home run of the season, a solo shot to left field.
The Dolphins regained the lead in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, UNF surrendered back-to-back walks and then hit a batter to load the bases. A third walk in the inning scored the go-ahead run. The next batter of the inning hit a ground ball to third base, but an errant throw allowed two runs to score, leaving runners on second and third with just one out. The next batter grounded out, scoring the fourth run of the inning. A base hit left JU with runners on the corners and a wild pitch scored the fifth run of the inning, leaving the Ospreys behind 7-2.
UNF chipped into the JU lead with a run in the top of the fourth inning. Perry walked with one out and advanced to second on a two-out single by Preckajlo. Preston Hale followed with an RBI single through the right side of the infield to cut the deficit to 7-3.
The Ospreys cut the margin to just a pair with two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Perry and Preckajlo each had solo home runs to left field to trim the JU lead to 7-5. The home run for Preckajlo was his second of the night and the third of the A-Sun Tournament.
North Florida took the lead with a three run seventh inning. The Ospreys led off the inning with four consecutive base hits. Eldredge led off the inning with a single and after advancing to second base on a wild pitch, he came around to score on a Smith single. Thompson continued the inning with a single through the right side of the infield. Ryan Roberson delivered an RBI single through the left side. Corey Bass moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt and Perry followed with a sacrifice fly.
The pivotal ninth inning started with a single through the left side. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second base. With one out a triple off of the right center field wall tied the score at 8-8. The Ospreys intentionally walked the next two batters to set up a force at every base and a potential double play. North Florida got a ground ball, but was unable to turn the double play and the go ahead run scored without a play.
North Florida finished the season 30-28 overall and 14-12 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. The Ospreys earned the No. 4 seed in the A-Sun Tournament in the first year of eligibility after a four-year reclassification period to full Division I status.
Hale and Preckajlo were each named to the Atlantic Sun All-Conference team, while Hale and Atteo were each named Academic All-District. In addition, Hale was tabbed First Team Academic All-American. On the year, the Ospreys picked up the program's 900th win.
The game was the final game for Hall of Fame head coach Dusty Rhodes. The legendary coach announced his retirement at the beginning of the season. He recorded over 1,200 victories, including over 900 at UNF. In 23 years, Rhodes directed the team to five College World Series appearances and 16 postseason berths.
