JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Already boasting a pair of extra-innings games, the multi-date 2013 series between Bethune-Cookman and North Florida ended Tuesday night at Harmon Stadium with the Ospreys (21-10) holding off the Wildcats (14-17) for a 3-1 decision in the finale.
The Wildcats put the first run in the scorebook, as Josh Johnson led off with a chopped shot to shortstop, reaching and advancing on an error. After stealing third, Johnson was batted in on a grounder from David Lee.
However, the 1-0 lead was short-lived, as UNF second baseman Drew Weeks drifted a leadoff home run to left center on the third pitch of the frame. Making his first collegiate start, sophomore Lenny Martinez recovered to pitch 3 2/3 effective innings before running into trouble late in the fourth.
Facing a bases-loaded situation with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, freshman reliever Byron Ferguson allowed a four-pitch walk for a RBI, granting UNF its first lead over B-CU, 2-1. After the score, Ferguson was quick to finish the frame, inducing a flyout to center.
Ferguson held the Ospreys to just three hits in through the next three innings, with no additional runs on the board.
UNF's eighth-inning leadoff batter, Ryan Roberson, reached on a throwing error. It would prove to be the insurance run, as pinch runner Garrick Ferguson replaced Roberson and went on to score on an error during a force-out play at third.
Corbin Olmstead earned his third save of the season, and the win for starter Evan Incinelli (3-0), downing the Wildcats in the top of the ninth for the 3-1 UNF win.
“I think we played hard, got some good performances from our pitching, made some good plays defensively and hit the ball well at times,” Head Coach Jason Beverlin said. “A couple of situations, defensively and offensively, we could have executed better, but the bottom line is that they just beat us today.”
Though the Wildcats logged only three base hits on the board, B-CU's hitters squared up balls throughout the game, with UNF taking away several opportunities via great plays. B-CU only logged three strikeouts in the non-conference contest.
“We played hard, we just didn't come out on top,” Beverlin said. “They can go to bed tonight happy with the way they went about their business and the way they played the game.”
Martinez (0-1) took the loss, allowing two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings and striking out one batter. Ferguson threw 3 1/3 with one strikeout and three hits allowed, while Jordan Dailey threw one complete frame with two strikeouts.
The Wildcats return to midweek action Wednesday (April 3) in Coral Gables, Fla., as they travel to face Miami (20-11) at 6 p.m. in the first of two matchups with the Hurricanes this season at Alex Roriguez Park.
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-B-CUathletics.com-
