Ryan Knight drove in the game-tying and game-winning RBI to help the No. 1-ranked University of North Florida baseball team rally from three runs down in the ninth inning to beat Presbyterian College 6-5 in 11 innings and finish 3-0 in the 2002 Peach Belt Challenge Jan. 31-Feb. 3 at Harmon Stadium.

"I was just trying to put the ball in play," Knight said. "It's a great feeling." UNF (3-0) beat Florida Technical College 11-5 Jan. 31 and Limestone College 14-7 Feb. 1 before its defeat of PC. "I think our offense put up some pretty good numbers," said head coach Dusty Rhodes. "We struggled a little today, but they [Presbyterian] played a really good game."

The Ospreys took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on consecutive RBI from Ryan McDonald and Ben Johanning, scoring Alden Watson and Scott Bridges. The Blue Hose (0-2) rallied for four runs in the fourth inning off starter Brian Rauch, who gave up four runs on five hits, including three-consecutive doubles in the fourth.

Rauch then gave way to Adam Horne, senior, who pitched five innings of relief duty, giving up one run and four hits. "They play this hard every year," Rhodes said. "We came out a little flat today." In the ninth, the Ospreys got a single and a Blue Hose error before a Ricky Willis double put the Ospreys down one with two out.

Knight then lined off the pitcher's glove and beat the throw to first to send the game to extra innings. In the top of the 11th inning, PC loaded the bases with a hit, a walk and an error from UNF's Knight with one out, but UNF reliever Barry Marquart got a double-play ball to end the inning. The Ospreys turned four double plays compared to two for the Blue Hose.

"I usually catch those," Knight said. "But you have to forget about those at the plate." In the bottom frame, UNF loaded the bases with one out when Knight came to bat and lined another ball off the pitcher's glove. Bridges beat the throw to the plate to win the game for UNF. Marquart (1-0) pitched two-and-two-thirds innings of scoreless relief to get the win for the Ospreys, while Charles Assey (0-1) took the loss for the Blue Hose.

Against Limestone Feb. 1, UNF got a home run and three RBI from Johanning to outslug the Saints 14-7. UNF pitcher Tod Ewasko (1-0) struck out six batters in six innings, while LC's Brandon Moore (0-1) surrendered nine hits and six earned runs in five innings for the loss. Mike Fryrear, Josh Howard, Watson and Willis added two RBI each as the Ospreys pounded the Saints for 14 runs on 15 hits.

In UNF's opener, Matt Incinelli (1-0) gave up no earned runs and struck out five in seven innings of work to lead UNF past Florida Tech 11-5. With the win, Incinelli ties former Osprey Sid Roberson for career wins with 36. Willis added a home run in the sixth for the Ospreys, scoring Ryan Soehlig and Bridges.

UNF has eight of its next nine games at home, including a matchup Feb. 6 against Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and its conference opener versus Francis Marion University Feb. 9-10.