May 11, 2008
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga.--A sacrifice fly in the 10th inning brought home an unearned run which proved to be the game-winner as North Florida rallied to defeat Kennesaw State, 6-5, on Mother's Day at Stillwell Stadium.
The Owls nearly tied the game in the bottom of the 10th, as with two men out and Curtis Van Wyck on first, a wind-blown pop up by Bucky Smith on a 3-2 pitch managed to drop into left center field. Van Wyck was waved around third to try and score. The throw beat Van Wyck home, and with no other play available, the shortstop attempted to run over Michael Gropper.
Gropper held on to the ball for the final out. But that's when the sparks began to fly. UNF reliever Tyler Stohr took exception to the play and yelled at Van Wyck. Soon, members of both teams were meeting at home plate, with KSU head coach Mike Sansing and UNF head coach Dusty Rhodes forced to play peacemaker between the two clubs. Eventually, cooler heads prevailed, the head coaches shook hands, and no further incidents happened.
Van Wyck was assessed a post-game ejection due to running over Gropper. He will be subject to suspension per A-Sun policy.
The Owls led throughout the contest until the late stages of the game, though neither team played a clean defensive game. KSU scored three unearned runs in the second, with the big blow coming Tyler Stubblefield's triple off the wall in right center.
After the Ospreys committed two errors in the second, the Owls reciprocated the favor in the third with a pair of errors to allow a pair of runs to score.
The Owls put a run on the board in the third on Jace Whitmer's single back up the middle, scoring Martin Baker. KSU tacked on an insurance run in the sixth on a Stubblefield fielder's choice.
In the seventh, UNF rallied for a pair of runs to cut the deficit to 5-4. One inning later, with a runner on third, T.J. Gaudy's ground out tied the score.
The game went to extra innings, with UNF scoring in the 10th to set the stage for the wild finish.
Michael Bohana (3-4) took the loss for the Owls, allowing two runs (one earned). Under NCAA Rule 10.22.e., even though the runner Bohana allowed to reach was retired on the base paths, Bohana is charged a run as the runner was retired via a fielder's choice.
The Owls will return to action this Tuesday, facing Jacksonville State in the final home game of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
