DeLAND, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team battled even with No. 17 Stetson for six innings, but surrendered six runs in the seventh and the eighth innings to fall to the nationally ranked Hatters, 6-0, on Sunday afternoon at Melching Field.
With the loss, the Ospreys fall to 23-18 overall and 12-12 in Atlantic Sun Conference play, while the Hatters improve to 34-10 and 17-4 in the league.
The game was a pitchers duel for the first six innings with neither team managing to score a run. No. 17 Stetson broke the deadlock in the seventh inning with a two-run home run. The Hatters added some insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to claim the series sweep.
Freshman righthander Tyler Moore took the hard luck loss for the Ospreys. The rookie scattered five hits over 6.2 innings. Moore held the nationally ranked Hatters scoreless for six full innings before surrendering a two-run home run in the seventh inning. On the day, Moore walked just two batters while striking out four.
Casey Medlen entered the game in relief of Moore. The senior tossed the final 1.1 innings, allowing four runs on three hits. He walked one and struck out two.
Offensively, UNF could get nothing going as the Ospreys were held to a season-low two hits on the day. Stetson had a no-hitter going until the top of the seventh inning when true freshman Shane Kennedy delivered a base hit to right field. Corey Bass added a single in the eighth inning to round out the scoring for the Ospreys.
In the second inning, the Ospreys were able to work out of the first jam of the day. With two outs, a single and a stolen base allowed the first runner for either team to move into scoring position. A walk saw two Hatters players on base, but a soft hit ground ball to second base ended the inning and the Stetson threat.
North Florida was able to keep the game scoreless in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Stetson used a double to put a runner in scoring position. The next batter grounded out, advancing the base runner to third base. Moore induced a fly ball to left field to keep the score tied at 0-0.
The Ospreys missed an opportunity in the top of the fifth inning. Alex Bacon led off the inning with a walk. T.J. Gavlik laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Bacon into scoring position. Following a pop up, Alex Hernandez walked, giving UNF a pair of base runners. A strikeout ended the inning and the Osprey threat.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Ospreys broke up the no hitter as Kennedy singled into right field. He moved into scoring position with his fourth stolen base of the season. With one out, Kennedy advanced to third base on a ground out, but was unable to score as a fly ball to center field ended the inning.
Stetson broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Hatters used a single and a sacrifice bunt to put a runner in scoring position. The base runner stole third base to move to within 90 feet of home. The next batter hit the ball to shortstop and Alex Hernandez alertly went home with the ball to retire the lead runner. With a runner on first base and two outs, Stetson's Mitchel Brennan hit a home run down the right field line to put the No. 17 team in the country in front 2-0 and break up the shutout.
The home run ended a streak of 17 consecutive innings without a run scored for Moore.
Down 2-0, North Florida threatened again in the top of the eighth inning. With one out, Bass singled through the left side of the infield. He moved into scoring position on a ground out. However, he was unable to advance any further as a strikeout ended the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Hatters loaded the bases with just one out. A single, a double and an intentional walk allowed the hosts to load the bases. The next batter cleared the bases with a triple into right field. With a runner on third and one out, the Ospreys dropped a fly ball in the outfield to allow the lead runner to score. UNF picked off the runner on first for the second out and Medlen struck out the batter at the plate to end the inning.
The Ospreys were unable to generate any offense in the ninth inning, dropping the final game of the conference series, 6-0.
North Florida returns to action with a two-game nonconference midweek series against Ohio State beginning on Tuesday, May 3. Game time for both games is slated for 6:35 p.m.
