A Balk-Off! Baseball Edges VMI, 5-4

Friday, February 14

6:05 p.m.

University of North Florida

1-0

VMI

0-1

VMI

North Florida

Libunao had a key two-out RBI single and sacrifice bunt in the ninth Friday night.

2/14/2020 11:01:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Ospreys Score Two in the Bottom of the Ninth, Win With a Balk-Off

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Down 4-3 going into the bottom of the ninth, UNF had its first two batters reach base to start the frame before an RBI groundout and a walk-off balk allowed the Ospreys to upend VMI, 5-4, in the season opener Friday, Feb. 14.

With junior Trey Spratling-Williams at the plate and sophomore Grant Grodi on third, reliever Will Lopez was called for a balk, plating Grodi.

The comeback inning was ignited by an Abraham Sequera flared single to right field. Grodi put down a sacrifice bunt that he would reach first on as Lopez's throw pulled VMI's Calen Nuccio off of first. Raff Libunao advanced both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt, bringing May up to plate with two in scoring position.

With the infield pulled in, May bounced a grounder up the middle that was fielded by a diving Zac Morris at shortstop before retiring May. Sequera scored on the play before Grodi was balked home just moments later.

UNF 5, VMI 4

Pitchers of Record
Win: Will Ohme (1-0)
Loss: Will Lopez (0-1)

Line Scores
VMI | 4 R, 8 H, 2 E, 5 LOB
UNF | 5 R, 8 H, 0 E, 7 LOB

Behind the Line Score

UNF put up a three-run second inning to take a 3-0 lead behind Clayton. Ricky Presno walked, Tanner Clark hooked a double inside the right field line and Sequera drew a one-out walk to load the bags. Grodi drove in Presno on an RBI groundout before Libunao came through with a two-out RBI single up the middle.
VMI didn't get on the board until the fifth, tying the game at three on three hits and three wild pitches. Two singles, three straight wild pitches and an RBI double down the left field line tied the game at 3-3.
The Keydets took their first lead in the top of the ninth. A Josh Hollifield walk was followed by a wild pitch, moving him to second. With two outs, Jordan Ebersole scored Hollifield with a single into right center.
UNF's two-run ninth featured one hit and one error.

Statistical Leaders
UNF

Sequera | 2-for-3, 2 R, BB
Libunao | 1-for-4, 2 RBI
Clayton | 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 4 K

VMI

Josh Hollifield | 2-for-2, R, BB
Jordan Ebersole | 2-for-3, R, RBI

Notes

Head coach Tim Parenton is 2-1 in season openers with the Ospreys.
UNF won its season opener by the same score of 5-4 Feb. 15 last year against Missouri.
It was Clayton's longest outing of his career.
All three of UNF's pitchers were sophomores.
It was Blake Marabell's first start in centerfield and Grodi's first start at second base.
Four players made their UNF debuts.
UNF is 2-2 against VMI all-time.
Ohme notched his first win and strikeout in the Navy and Gray.
Both pitchers of record have the first name, Will.
UNF had three doubles to VMI's two.
VMI used six pitchers.