The North Florida Ospreys gave LSU a taste of its own small-ball medicine to win game three of the weekend series Sunday at Alex Box Stadium.
North Florida (2-3) scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning on a sacrifice fly preceded by a sacrifice bunt to to win the game, 4-3 and prevent LSU (2-1) from completing a three-game sweep.
North Florida coach Dusty Rhodes said the win was big for his team, which is competing in its first year in Division I-A.
“To be able to win a ballgame against LSU at LSU is big not only for us but for the university,” Rhodes said. “It pretty much launches us into Division I.”
LSU senior right-fielder Quinn Stewart, who went 1-for-5 Sunday, said the team did not execute when they needed to the most.
“They just outplayed us today,” Stewart said. “It boils down to we just did not get the timely hit, and that’s the bottom line.”
LSU coach Smoke Laval said he was impressed with the play of freshman center fielder Jarred Bogany and junior college transfer Steven Waguespack. Both players combined to go 16-for-23 with four RBIs and four strikeouts over the weekend.
“Our older guys just tried to do too much, and they don’t trust that the younger guys can help out, but they’ll learn,” Laval said.
Junior right-hander Daniel Forrer started Sunday for LSU. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts. Senior right-hander Will Harris was charged with the loss after pitching the final three innings.
On Saturday, each team battled cold, blustery conditions and effective starting pitching.
LSU right-hander Derik Olvey and North Florida left-hander Brad Johnson both had hitters off-balance for most of the game. The two teams combined for just 11 hits in 59 at-bats.
LSU waited until the seventh inning to put a run on the scoreboard, eventually winning the game 4-0.
Olvey pitched 8 1/3 shutout innings, yielding only four hits and striking out five batters. Senior right-hander Edgar Ramirez recorded the last two outs to close the game.
Olvey, a Notre Dame transfer, said it was a refreshing feeling to hear the crowd cheer him as he left the mound.
“Smoke told me ‘We’re going to let [Ramirez] go in, but I want you to go out there and get one out so the fans will recognize you,'” Olvey said.
Friday’s game was postponed in the fourth inning because of heavy rain with LSU leading 7-0.
The game resumed at noon Saturday as LSU used 20 hits to win 11-1.
Junior left-hander Clay Dirks started the game, pitching four shutout innings, and left the game with a no-decision.
Redshirt freshman Nolan Cain pitched four innings, allowing one run on five hits to record the win.
 
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