Box Score JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Seniors Nate Woods (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Tim Egerton (Smyrna, Tenn.), as well as sophomore Judah Akers (Cookeville, Tenn.), each recorded a home run on Sunday, but it was not enough as North Florida (14-11, 6-6) topped Belmont (12-13, 3-6) by a score of 17-9 in the final game of the weekend series.
The Bruins got out to a quick start, scoring four runs in the top of the first. Junior Zac Mitchell (Cordova, Tenn.) led off with a walk, which was followed by singles from senior Derek Hamblen (Plano, Texas) and junior Dylan Craig (Signal Mountain, Tenn.), scoring Mitchell. After Craig was caught stealing second base and Woods was walked, Akers connected on three run homer to right center bringing home Woods and Hamblen.
After only allowing one run in the bottom of the first on a lead off home run, Belmont came back with another run in the top of the second to make it 5-1. Freshman Greg Brody (Dacula, Ga.) led off the inning with a double and then scored when Hamblen drove him in on a single to right field.
UNF's Tyler Marincov opened the bottom of the second with a home run on the first pitch, which started a slew of six runs that forced Belmont starting pitcher Woods out of the game. The righty was credited with the loss after allowing seven runs on eight hits in one and one third innings pitched.
The Ospreys scored three runs over the next two innings, before BU made a run of its own, scoring three in the top of the fifth to make it 10-8. All it took was three batters, as Woods hit a solo shot to left, Akers walked, and then Egerton homered to left center to drive in Akers. Woods and Egerton now share the lead for Belmont homers with four a piece on the season.
The Bruins scored one more in the sixth to come within one run, before UNF blew the game open, scoring six runs in the bottom of the sixth. Five straight singles followed by a three run homer by Andrew Karmeris gave North Florida a 16-9 lead that held Belmont off for the rest of the contest.
UNF finished with 17 runs on 22 hits and one error, while Belmont totaled nine runs on 12 hits and one error. Woods falls to 2-4 on the season with the loss, while the Ospreys' Tyler Moore recorded his first win of the season after allowing only two hits and striking out six in three and one third innings of relief.
Hamblen led BU with three hits at the plate, while Craig, Woods, Egerton and Brody each chipped in with two. Karmeris led UNF with four hits on the day, while Marincov tallied two homers in the victory.
Belmont will next play at Western Kentucky on Wednesday, March 30 at 6:00 p.m. before returning home to host Jacksonville in a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference series from April 1st to the 3rd.
