This past weekend, the University of North Florida baseball team swept the weekend series over FGCU, winning three straight games at Harmon Stadium. 

In each win, the Ospreys fell behind early but came back later and earned a pair of walk-off wins. At the plate, five different UNF players launched home runs, contributing to 18 overall runs scored over the weekend. 

Game One

In the first game, it took five innings for any scoring to start. Both starting pitchers were dealing, putting up zeros and limiting baserunners. 

On the mound for UNF, lefty Dakota Stone allowed six baserunners in the first five innings, including three hits in the second inning, but Ospreys’ centerfielder Seth Alford threw out a runner heading home.

Offensively, the Ospreys were without a baserunner through the seventh, showing the dominance of FGCU starter Evan Dempsey. However, in the next inning, the game flow changed entirely. 

Dempsey, a hitter himself, helped the cause by launching a two-run home run with zero outs in the sixth. Facing UNF reliever Kai Etwaru, FGCU doubled its lead in the seventh. Trailing 4-0, UNF finally got to Demspey, reducing its deficit to one. 

To start the next inning, Boone Hosey lined a single up the middle. Sean Benjamin advanced Hosey, dribbling an infield single to the pitcher. With two runners on, Alford crushed his fourth home run, bringing home Hosey and Benjamin. 

North Florida’s bats had awoken, and the Ospreys were within just a single run. Attempting to tie or take the lead, Gilardi Gomez worked a two-out walk and stole second base.

However, UNF’s Mitchell Collins struck out swinging, ending the threat. Looking to add an insurance run, FGCU manufactured a leadoff baserunner on a hit by pitch. But UNF reliever Clay Hendry escaped the traffic, keeping it a one-run game.

Down to its final three outs, the Ospreys wanted to build off its previous frame. Hosey hit another single, advancing Jackson Schrafft to third, who walked with one out. Pinch runner Finn Howell advanced to second on a wild pitch, securing two runners in scoring position. 

Then, Benjamin was intentionally walked, setting up the double play and loading the bases. Taking advantage of two costly Eagle mistakes, Alford was hit by a pitch, tying the game at four. 

Lastly, Carter White walked, securing the Ospreys’ win for game one. 

Game Two

A day later, the Ospreys were searching for a series win on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in the First Coast. Winning in conference play isn’t easy, and both teams were expecting another back-and-forth slug fest. 

Unlike game one, UNF scored first when catcher Santiago Ordonez crushed a double in the outfield gap, plating Benjamin. Leading 1-0, North Florida’s slim lead didn’t last long. In the third inning, FGCU equalized, running out an infield single to tie it at one. 

The back-and-forth affair continued in the bottom half of the inning. Gomez shot a single the other way, sending Farner home. Once again, FGCU had another response, and across the dugout, Dempsey led off the fourth with his second homer of the weekend. 

Then, FGCU dabbled in some small ball, hitting four consecutive singles, doubling its run production. Capping off the crooked number inning, Wilfred Gonzalez doubled, making it a 5-2 game. 

Finally, the Ospreys escaped further damage with their second out at home plate. Gomez threw out an Eagle trying to score on a sacrifice fly, producing the double play and ending the inning.  

FGCU scored another run in the fifth inning off reliever Ryan Furey. Jonathan Acosta opened the inning with a home run, shrinking the deficit to three. 

Still, with no outs, Collins singled right up the middle, where the ball was thrown. Two batters later, Jackson Toberman skied another home run to left center, and the Ospreys were back within one. 

In the seventh inning, Collins pulled a single to left. With two outs, Gomez powered a home run, giving UNF the 7-6 lead. 

As the game neared its end, no scoring occurred, clinching the UNF series win. Four Osprey relievers had scoreless outings, totaling 4.2 innings with only three baserunners allowed. 

Game Three

Eyeing a sweep on an early Sunday afternoon, it took a couple of innings for the Ospreys to gain momentum. Rounding out all three games, FGCU scored first, taking a 3-0 lead in the third inning. 

UNF added a run in the third inning, and FGCU followed with a single run in the fourth. From there, the Ospreys held the Eagles scoreless. 

Midway through the game, seven Ospreys hit in the sixth inning, creating a two-run inning. Specifically, Gomez started the two-out rally with a walk. Alford followed with a single, moving Gomez to second. Benjamin, a pinch hitter, walked to load the bases. 

Finally, Drew Buchanan singled, scoring two runs.

Despite this eventful inning, UNF scored only two runs and still trailed. UNF tied the game in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly, which scored Collins, who led off the inning with a double.

Closing out the series, Farner towered a ball to left center, ending the series on a walk-off home run. 

This was North Florida’s second walk-off and third comeback win. Stepping on the mound, reliever Devin Diggs worked three scoreless innings 

The Ospreys have now won five of their last six games, putting them over .500 for the first time since March 7. In ASUN play, the Ospreys lead the conference, posting a 5-1 record. 

UNF baseball will look to keep the good times rolling when it travels across town to face Jacksonville University. The first ‘River City Rumble’ series of the season starts on Friday, March 27, and runs through Sunday, March 29. 

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