Box Score (.pdf)

Jacksonville, Fla. – Alex Merritt's two-run single in the sixth inning broke a 5-5 tie as North Florida completed a three-game sweep of USC Upstate thanks to a 13-6 victory over the Spartans at Harmon Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

North Florida improves to 34-17 and 12-6 while USC Upstate falls to 20-28 and 3-14.

After the first two Ospreys grounded out to open the first inning, Keith Skinner reached on a single followed by a pair of walks to load the bases. Chris Thibideau was hit by a pitch to bring home Skinner but the Spartans got out of the inning thanks to a flyout.

North Florida scored four runs in the second inning. Kyle Brooks brought home a run with a double. After a walk and a wild pitch, Skinner and Corbin Olmstead each drove home a run on consecutive singles before the final run of the inning scored on a groundout.

Zach Krider reached on a walk to begin the third inning before an Osprey error allowed Brendan Brundage to reach. Following a sacrifice bunt, J.J. Shimko got the Spartans on the board with a single through the right side. Brundage scored on a Daniel Fickas sacrifice fly before Charlie Carpenter brought home Shimko on a two out single to left field to make the score 5-3.

Upstate plated a pair of runs in the fourth inning to tie the game at 5. Hunter Gilbert reached on a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a Zach Krider single.

Both teams would leave the bases loaded in the fifth inning.

Olmstead and Nick Karmeris opened the North Florida sixth inning with singles before advancing to second and third on a sacrifice bunt. Merritt brought home Olmstead and Karmeris to give the hosts a 7-5 lead.

In the Upstate eighth, Jordan Miller reached on a single with one out, advanced to third on a Shimko single and scored on Fickas' second sacrifice fly of the game to bring Upstate within a run. North Florida answered in the bottom half of the inning with six runs, three of them scoring on a Skinner double with the bases loaded.

Shimko went 3-for-5 with three singles, a run scored and two RBI. Fickas went 1-for-3 with a single, two sacrifice flies and two RBI. Carpenter went 2-for-3 with two singles and an RBI.

Olmstead went 4-for-5 with four singles and two RBI. Skinner went 3-for-6 with two singles, a double, three runs scored and four RBI.

Matt Naylor (4-3) earned the win after he allowed one run on two hits with three strikeouts in 2.2 innings. Bryan Hathaway (2-1) took the loss after allowing two runs on four hits with six walks and a strikeout in four innings. Olmstead picked up his sixth save after he allowed two hits with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings.

The Spartans will play their final road game of the season on Tuesday as they travel to Presbyterian College for a 3 p.m. matchup.

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