Monday, May 17, 2010

MACON, Ga. – UNF’s Andrew Karmeris earned Atlantic Sun Player of the Week honors and teammate Michael Kelly picked up Pitcher of the Week accolades as the pair led the Ospreys to their first postseason play at the division I level. 

Karmeris, a sophomore, led the Ospreys offensively in four games, helping UNF to a 3-1 record on the week. The Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. native batted .500 on the week, going 8-for-16, with a home run, six runs batted in and seven runs scored. Karmeris, an international business major, hit safely in all four games on the week, recording multiple hits in three of the four games. He boasted a .688 slugging percentage on the week. The Osprey first baseman recorded three runs against Big East opponent USF, as well as three runs in the first game of the series against Stetson. Karmeris drove in a pair of runs against the Bulls and had three RBIs against the Hatters in game one of the series and hit his 10th home run of the season Saturday against Stetson.

Kelly, a senior left-hander, finished the week with a 1-0 record in two appearances for the Ospreys. The Mayo, Fla. native tossed a complete game against Stetson picking up the victory. Against the Hatters, he scattered seven hits in 9.0 innings, allowing one run. Kelly, a communications major, walked one batter, while recording a career-high 10 strikeouts. He threw an inning against Big East opponent USF, allowing a pair of hits and striking out two. For the week, Kelly struck out 12 batters in 10.0 innings. The southpaw allowed nine hits on the week, but did not allow an extra base hit, holding opponents to a .237 batting average.

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The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Other Top Performers
Chris Bangi Campbell (Sr. - OF - Jacksonville, Fla. - Sport Management) - Bangi extended his streak to 49 consecutive games (each one he has played this year) of reaching base via a hit, walk, or hit by pitch. He also raised hit batting average to .406 (second in league) and OBP to .542 (tops in A-Sun). Bangi ranks 34th in the league in steals (25) and fifth in walks (36).

Austin Gaines, FGCU (Jr. - 3B - Dunedin, Fla. - Education) - Gaines led the Eagles to a 3-1 record last week, including leading FGCU to a third consecutive A-Sun regular season title. Gaines hit .529 with four doubles, one homer, three runs scored, and five RBIs. He also had a slugging percentage of .941 and an on-base percentage of .500.

Chris Sale, FGCU (Jr. - LHP - Lakeland, Fla. - Criminal Justice) - Sale, a junior left-hander, went 1-0 last week and picked up his second save of the season. In FGCU's 8-5 win over FAU on Tuesday evening at the FAU Baseball Stadium, Sale entered in the ninth and retired the Owls on seven pitches to pick up his second save of the season. Sale started on the mound for the Eagles Friday evening and after throwing seven innings, the lefty improved to 9-0 on the year after allowing two earned runs on six hits to go with 14 strikeouts and no walks in the 10-4 win. Sale's performance at JU helped FGCU claim their third consecutive A-Sun Regular Season crown.

Justice French, Mercer (Jr. - RHP - Suwanee, Ga. - Business) - French led Mercer to a 3-1 week after pitching 8.2 innings, including one start, with a 1.04 ERA. The junior pitched 6.2 innings against Lipscomb and allowed just one earned run in a no decision. French, a business major, pitched two scoreless innings of relief against The Citadel Tuesday to help the Bears to a 5-0 road shutout of the Bulldogs.

Michael Langley, Mercer (Sr. - 2B - Lilburn, Ga. - Business) - Langley led Mercer to a 3-1 week by hitting a team-high .438 (7-16). The senior second baseman moved into third place in Mercer single season history with his 86 hits and 20 doubles this season.