JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - In a game that had four ties, five lead changes, 27 runs and 37 hits, the North Florida Ospreys broke open the contest with seven runs in the eighth inning and went on to defeat the VMI Keydets, 16-11, in non-conference baseball action Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla. The UNF (1-1) win evened the season-opening series at one game apiece.
VMI (1-1) had rallied from a 9-6 deficit with four runs in the eighth inning to take a 10-9 lead, but UNF sent 12 men to the plate in the bottom half to take the lead for good. Taylor Edens started the inning and gave up a RBI single to Alex Merritt before departing. Jonathan Kelley relieved, but gave up a run-scoring single to Patrick Ervin and a three-run double to Ryan Roberson, as well as issuing a bases-loaded walk to force in a run. Corbin Olmstead tacked on a RBI double off freshman Eric Byrd to cap the North Florida scoring, while Ray Lopez scored on a wild pitch in the ninth inning to account for the final margin.
In the setback, Will Malbon had his first career four-hit game, scored three runs and drove in another three, while Ray Lopez went 5 for 5 with three runs scored. North Florida had five players post three hits apiece in its win.
Malbon was the instigator early, as he helped the Keydets take a first inning lead when he led off with a double. One out later, Brandon Angus walked and so did Matt Winn, loading the bases. Tyler Tharp then delivered a two-run single to put the visitors ahead, 2-0.
The VMI lead was short lived, as after a leadoff walk in the bottom half of the frame, Donnie Dewees homered to right center to tie the game, 2-2.
North Florida then scored twice more off starter Blaine Lafin in the second. Patrick Ervin had an RBI infield hit and Dewees followed with a RBI groundout, making it a 4-2 contest.
The Keydets took the lead back in the fourth. Lopez doubled with one out, and Jacob Jaye followed with a walk to end UNF starter Bryan Baker's day. Malbon greeted reliever Dan VanSickle with a two-run triple, tying the score, 4-4, and Jordan Tarsovich followed with a sacrifice fly to make it a 5-4 contest.
The Ospreys tied it in the bottom half on a RBI double by Keith Skinner, and took the lead in the fifth. Merritt led off with an infield hit, and the next batter, Alex Bacon, reached second on a throwing error. UNF got a run home on an infield out, bringing Austin Heenan out of the bullpen with runners at second and third and one out. Heenan uncorked a wild pitch to make it 7-5, UNF after five innings.
VMI squandered a golden opportunity in the sixth after putting two runners on with no outs. Malbon struck out and Lopez was picked off second base to end that threat, and Olmstead promptly led off the next half inning with a solo home run, bumping the margin to 8-5, UNF.
The Keydets battled back in the eighth, however. Thomas Stallings led off with a pinch-hit single, and Lopez tripled to right center to score him. One out later, Malbon poked a RBI single to right and stole second.
Matthew Naylor relieved for the Ospreys, but Tarsovich singled and Angus drove in a run with a fielder's choice, tying the game at 8-all. Winn followed with a RBI single to give the Keydets the lead, 9-8, but Alex Smith struck out Brian Dudeck, Jr. with two on and two out to end the inning, setting the stage for North Florida's rally in the bottom half.
In a game that was a battle of bullpens, neither starter figured in the decision. Lafin worked two innings and was charged with four runs on five hits, while Baker pitched 3 1/3 frames and was also charged with four runs.
The winning pitcher was Smith (1-0), who worked 1 1/3 innings and surrendered one run. Edens (0-1) took the loss for the Keydets after being charged with four runs, all earned, on three hits in 1/3 of an inning.
VMI baseball will return to action Sunday, as the Keydets take on the Ospreys in the rubber game of the three-game season-opening series. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
