JACKSONVILLE – North Florida scored three times with two outs in the eighth inning to break a 0-0 tie and hand the Florida baseball team a 3-0 setback, ending the Gators’ five-game winning streak.
Three North Florida pitchers surrendered four hits and three walks but fanned 12 Gators. Spencer Jones, the last of three North Florida pitchers, struck out five Gators to earn the victory.
Coach Kevin O’Sullivan’s Gators, now 14-8, play host to the Ospreys Wednesday night at 6:30.
Left-hander Michael Kelly started and went 4.1 innings, allowing three hits and three walks while fanning four. Antonio Franzese followed with 2.2 innings of one-hit relief with three strikeouts before Jones pitched the final two innings.
The Ospreys (9-15) got to the Gators’ bullpen in the eighth. Greg Larson came in to pitch for Florida and David Eldridge reached on a error by second baseman Clayton Pisani and was sacrificed to second. After another out, pinch-runner Steve Hillan moved to third on a wild pitch and Florida switched pitchers again with Tony Davis replacing Larson.
Davis walked Michael Smith and Brian Wilson followed with an RBI single, scoring Hillan. Preston Hale then doubled to left center, scoring Smith and Wilson.
In the top of the ninth, Jones, who had struck out the side in the eighth, fanned pinch-hitter Tyler Thompson looking and Matt den Dekker swinging to end the game.
Florida’s four hits, all singles, came off the bats of den Dekker, Josh Adams, Avery Barnes and Pisani.
Freshman Anthony DeSciafani started for Florida and went the first five innings, allowing two hits and one walk while fanning three. Clint Franklin pitched the next two innings, allowing one hit with one strikeout.