North Florida Baseball Beats Dartmouth In Saturday Slugfest
Osprey Offensive Explosion: UNF Crushes Dartmouth 14-8 in High-Scoring Home Victory
March 2, 2024
Jacksonville, FL - North Florida baseball (7-3) out-slugged Dartmouth (0-5) in a high-scoring Saturday victory to win their second consecutive weekend series. The Ospreys scored a season high 14 runs while also hitting three home runs. With the victory UNF extended its winning streak to six straight.
Dartmouth came out firing, scoring five runs in the first. Elliot Krewson singled home a run and Kolton Freeman launched a two-run home run. Max Zajec would pick up an RBI on a triple and would come in to score on a single from Jackson Hower. UNF used three pitchers in the first, with both Avery Love and Will Ross recording a single out.
North Florida would respond quickly, as Tripp McKinlay delivered a two-run home run to close the gap to 5-2. The home run was the first of McKinlay's career. UNF went on to tie the game in the third, with RBIs from Cade Bush, Connor Moore, and Drew Leinenbach.
The Ospreys would take their first lead of the game on a wild pitch in the fourth. Leinenbach and McKinlay would each continue their strong days with RBI singles a piece in the fifth. UNF pitching would run into trouble in the sixth. The first two hitters reached for the Big Green, which allowed Nathan Cmeyla to bring a run in
UNF's Alex Rodriguez avoiding a double play against Dartmouth
on a sac fly. Center Fielder Tyler Robinson reached on an RBI single to bring the score within one. It appeared Dartmouth would tie the game, until first baseman Cade Bush snared a line drive out of the air to end the inning.
The catch would give momentum back to the Ospreys. Alex Rodriguez and McKinlay would each add two RBIs on singles to extend the Osprey lead. UNF would show off their power in the seventh and eighth, as Jakob Runnels and Alex Rodriguez would both hit their first home run of the season. The homers would bring the score to 14-7. Scott Griesemer would give up a run in the ninth but would still secure the victory.
UNF's Jakob Runnels hitting against Dartmouth College