Despite falling behind early and being out-hit, the Ospreys stormed back with runs in each of the last four innings to beat Bethune-Cookman 12-6 Tuesday at Harmon Field.
Preseason All-American Corbin Olmstead reached base safely for the 23 consecutive game and is now tied for second in the Atlantic Sun with 37 RBI.
Bethune-Cookman scored three runs in the first running and one run in the second to open an early four-run lead. An error in the bottom of the second by Bethune-Cookman first baseman Danny Rodriguez allowed two Ospreys to score and cut the lead in half.
The Ospreys tacked another run on in the third, and Chris Thibideau knocked home three runs with his first triple of the year in the fifth to give UNF a 7-4 lead. The team tacked on nine-unanswered runs after falling behind and scored in all but two innings.
Head Coach Smoke Laval commented on the teams effort.
“It’s tough when you come off a weekend and you can’t practice and try to get the bugs out,” Laval said. “Thibideau missed a couple games at Kennesaw [State], and it’s nice to see he got the triple and squared up two other balls.”
Junior Alex Smith was awarded the win after taking over for starter Matt Vaka in the third inning. Smith went 3.2 innings and gave up two hits and zero runs while striking out five. Smith has made six relief appearances this year and has yet to allow a run.
Keith Skinner continued his hot start, going 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Skinner pushed his season average to .425, which is good enough to put him top 30 in the country.
Senior Kyle Brooks scored his 145 run, passing former teammate Donnie Dewees for fourth place on the D-1 era career runs list.
UNF recorded its ninth error-free game of the year and its ninth come from behind victory. The Ospreys have now beat Bethune-Cookman in five of the last six meetings, with the one loss coming earlier this season.
The Ospreys will be on the road for the next five games, starting with a trip to Tallahassee to take on Florida A&M at Moore Kittles Field. Freshman Frank German will make his fifth start, and first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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