Comeback Comes Up Just Short Against Rutgers

Sunday, February 23

1:05 p.m.

University of North Florida

2-4

Rutgers

3-3

Rutgers

North Florida

Tanner May throws the ball over to first

Tanner May went 3-for-4 with two runs and a stolen bag Sunday.

Photo by: Todd Drexler

2/23/2020 6:04:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - UNF scored three in the first, three in the ninth and got the tying run to second base in the final frame, but Rutgers (3-3) held off UNF's late surge as North Florida (2-4) fell, 7-6, in the series finale Sunday, Feb. 23.

Runners left on base loomed large as Rutgers pitchers stranded 11 Ospreys, including the three in the bottom of the eighth.

Rutgers 7, UNF 6

Pitchers of Record
Win: Will Ohme (1-1)
Loss: Tevin Murray (1-1)

Line Scores
Rutgers | 7 R, 12 H, 0 E, 7 LOB
UNF | 6 R, 12 H, E, 11 LOB

Behind the Line Score

Rutgers scored two two-out runs in the top of the first, both of which were unearned. Danny DiGeorgio walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a bloop single to right from Chris Brito. Richie Schiekofer reached earlier on a fielder's choice and eventually scored from third after Brito drew a throw to second on a double steal.
UNF bounced back to a 3-2 lead after a four-hit, three-run first. Grant Grodi singled, Tanner May was hit by a pitch, Blake Marabell singled and Raff Libunao plated Grodi on a fielder's choice. Another RBI groundout from Tanner Clark and an Abraham Sequera single through the left side completed the scoring.
Rutgers tied it on a pair of doubles from Tim Dezzi and Victor Valderrama.
RU scored two in the fourth. Brito tagged a solo home run to right center on a 1-2 count atop the fourth inning, putting Rutgers up, 4-3. Dezzi walked, reached second on a wild pitch and Andy Axelson flared a single down the right field line to score Dezzi.
UNF had a good opportunity in the seventh, but Rutgers escaped harm. Grodi singled to right center, May laced a base hit through the left side but Rutgers induced a double play and a groundout to end the frame.
Rutgers added two more in the eighth. Back-to-back singles, a hit batter followed by a single up the middle from Dezzi and a Welsh sac fly made it 7-3.
Again UNF threatened, this time in the eighth. With the bases loaded, Rutgers coaxed a fielder's choice play at home and an inning-ending strikeout to end the frame with the bags loaded.
May started UNF's ninth with a single that found space thanks to a Rutgers shift. Libunao laced a single up the box, as did Clark, scoring May. Sequera battled before rolling a grounder to DiGeorgio at short where it was misplayed. Trey Spratling-Williams casted a ball into left center that was caught by a diving Valderrama, scoring pinch runner Jered Geis. Ricky Presno was retired on strikes, stranding Sequera at second base.

Statistical Leaders

UNF

Grodi | 3-for-5, R
May | 3-for-4, 2 R
Libunao | 2-for-5, RBI
Miller | 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 K

Rutgers

Brito | 3-for-3, R, RBI, HR
Dezzi | 2-for-3, 2 R, RBI, BB
Murray | 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

Notes

It was Will Ohme's first career start.
Grodi is on a six-game hitting streak to start the year.
It was UNF's 31st game against Big Ten foes in school history.
Sequera nearly had himself a two-run home run in the eighth, but a deep fly ball slicing down the right field line was called foul.

Up Next
UNF goes to Columbia, S.C., Tuesday to face the Gamecocks.