The University of North Florida baseball team was looking to end its midweek struggles against the Florida A&M University on Tuesday, overpowering the Rattlers, 11-2.

Coming off five straight ASUN series weekend wins, UNF was looking to break the streak of six midweek game losses. Head coach Joe Mercadante credited UNF outfielder Carter White, relief pitchers, and the team’s intense batting for the Osprey’s win. 

Early innings

In inning one, the Rattlers struck first off UNF starter Clay Hendry. Immediately, two batters in, FAMU went up 2-0, towering an opposite-field home run that barely scraped the left field wall. 

Two batters later, UNF right fielder Gialdri Gomez lost a fly ball in the sun, keeping the inning alive for FAMU and putting another runner in scoring position. 

However, during the next at-bat, Gomez redeemed himself, shielding the sun with his glove and catching an out. 

Trailing 2-0 in the home half of the first, junior college transfer Matthew Farner skied a double that the Rattler’s right fielder misplayed. This double didn’t amount to any scoring for UNF. 

Defensively, Hendry settled in, retiring the next five Rattlers before allowing a lead-off single in the third inning. 

That single never resulted in a run or even advanced into scoring position. In fact, they were caught stealing to end the frame. 

To start the bottom of the third, with the score still 2-0, number nine hitter Drew Buchanan worked a four-pitch walk. A second walk put another runner on, coming from Farner. 

Productively, Gomez grounded out, advancing both Buchanan and Farner to second and third. Then, catcher Boone Hosey was hit by a pitch, loading the bases full of free passes. 

Taking advantage of Rattler mistakes, UNF center fielder White lined a single in the outfield, tying the game at two. Looking to take the lead, UNF first baseman Jackson Toberman launched a fly ball, but it was caught in foul ground. 

Last innings

Facing new UNF pitcher Joseph Dimino, a double and overthrow by second baseman Mitchell Collins set up runners on the corners for Florida A&M. 

But the runner on third attempted to steal home and was caught, ending FAMU’s chance to score. At the plate, UNF didn’t waste any longer taking its first lead. With two outs in the fourth inning, Buchanan crushed a home run to deep left center, breaking the tie. 

Dimino threw a quick inning to keep the slim UNF lead, 3-2. Halfway home, Gomez laid down a well-placed bunt that caught the FAMU pitcher off guard, advancing Farner, who reached on another hit by pitch. 

The wheels continued to fall off for the Rattlers, despite being down only one. A wild pitch advanced both runners. Hosey walked to load the bases, and again, White stepped up with no room on the bases. 

White reached base on a fielder’s choice, scoring the fourth run for UNF. Toberman followed, roping a double off the left field wall, extending the Osprey lead to 5-2. 

UNF capped off the fifth inning with another run. Leading 6-2, in relief of Hendry, Domino put the first two Rattlers on in the sixth inning. He was promptly removed from the game. 

Left-handed arm Kai Etwaru started his outing with a walk, loading the bases with zero out. Miraculously, Etwaru escaped the jam, forcing a double play and a strikeout. 

In the bottom half, Collins doubled to lead off the inning. Gomez brought him home, but was caught stealing when trying to stretch his hit into a double. 

FAMU put two runners on in the seventh but stranded two more, totaling five runners left on base in the last two innings. 

After the seventh inning stretch, White tacked on RBI number four on a deep solo home run to center. It was an 8-2 ballgame and UNF was running away with this one. 

UNF scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth, with two coming from another White single. The UCF transfer came up three times with the bases loaded and cashed in on all three. 

Reliever Jeremiah Stewart shut the door, finishing off the Rattlers in the ninth, securing the 11-2 victory. 

Coach’s thoughts  

Following the game, Mercadante said it’s nice to get back in the win column.

“It’s good to get off that little slide we were going on,” Mercadante said. “Every game is a new day. For us now, it’s getting ready for the weekend, but it’s certainly a big win for our guys.”

Additionally, Mercadante credited the relief pitching for not letting the moments with runners on base affect them.

“[Dimino] comes in and picks off first base, and then even [Etwaru] goes into a messy situation and gets a double play,” Mercadante said. “Those are big plays and only because these guys aren’t worried about striking everybody out.”

Before the game, Mercadante said he was frustrated with White but afterward, he praised him.

“I was a little frustrated with him because he was swinging at nothing but first pitches but he didn’t miss that home run,” the third-year manager said. “He got in some good situations and put the ball in play which is big.”

Collectively, Mercadante said he is pleased with how his team is hitting throughout the batting order.

“That’s been a strength for us all year,” he said. “It’s not always going to be the three hole hitter, sometimes it’s the seven, nine. That’s a good team when you’ve got length.”

With the win, UNF improves to 21-15 while FAMU drops to 17-17. The Ospreys are back in action on Friday, hosting Stetson in a three-game series. First pitch is at 6 p.m., and the series concludes Sunday. 

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