TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (Interstat) — Tyler Fay dominated over seven strong innings and Justin Osterhouse powered the offense with four hits, including a two-run homer, as the Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the North Florida Ospreys 7-2 on Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

The game’s start was delayed by lightning and rain, but once play began, Alabama’s offense steadily took control. The Crimson Tide improved to 12-3, while North Florida fell to 8-7.

Fay, the top star for Alabama, was masterful in his outing. The right-hander struck out 11 Ospreys batters, allowing just four hits and two earned runs. He set the tone early, striking out the side in the second inning and retiring 10 of the first 11 batters he faced. This performance followed a six-inning, one-hit outing against Iowa on Feb. 27.

North Florida starter Dakota Stone matched Fay early, holding Alabama hitless through the first four innings. However, command issues proved costly. Stone walked four batters and hit another, with all four free passes coming around to score. He was charged with four earned runs over four innings despite not allowing a hit.

Alabama broke through in the second inning without a hit. Justin Osterhouse reached on an error, stole second, and scored on a groundout by Kade Kroberger to cut an early deficit to 2-1. The Crimson Tide took the lead for good in the third, capitalizing on two walks and a hit batter. Jason Torres drove in the tying run with a sacrifice bunt, and Peyton Steele followed with an RBI single to make it 3-2.

The most important sequence of the game came in the fifth inning. After North Florida’s Gialdri Gomez hit a two-run homer in the top of the inning to briefly tie the game at 2-2, Alabama responded immediately in the bottom half. Facing reliever Ryan Furey, Torres singled and Osterhouse doubled. Steele then delivered the decisive blow, a two-run triple to left-center field, restoring Alabama’s lead at 5-2.

Alabama added insurance in the seventh when Osterhouse launched his two-run homer to right field, scoring Torres who had doubled. Osterhouse finished 4 for 5 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Steele went 2 for 3 with three RBIs, and Torres added three hits and an RBI.

For North Florida, Gomez provided all the offense with his two-run homer, one of only four hits for the Ospreys on the night. Following Fay, Alabama reliever Evan Steckmesser closed the game with two perfect innings, striking out two.

The victory aligned with pregame projections from Interstat, which gave Alabama an 82.80 percent probability to win, though the final score was more lopsided than the simulated 7-6 prediction.

The teams continue their three-game series Saturday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.