Baseball Doubled Up by Central Michigan in Series Opener

Friday, March 6

6:05 p.m.

University of North Florida

3-8

Central Michigan

7-5

Central Michigan

North Florida

Blake Marabell throws the ball from outfield.

Marabell posted a season best three hits, including a double, Friday night.

3/6/2020 9:54:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Chippewas Push Across Seven in Fourth, Five in Fifth

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - UNF pitching held off Central Michigan (7-5) in the latter half of the game, but the Chippewas' seven-run fourth inning and five-run fifth were too much to recover from as North Florida (3-8) fell to CMU, 12-6, Friday, March 6.

CMU 12, UNF 6

Pitchers of Record
Win: Clayton Brock (1-0)
Loss: Brandon Reitz (1-3)

Line Scores
CMU | 12 R, 13 H, 0 E, 7 LOB
North Florida | 6 R, 10 H 2 E, 12 LOB

Behind the Line Score

Central Michigan got its first base runner of the game atop a seven-run fourth inning. CMU put up seven runs on six hits, two of which were bunts and two that were doubles.
Raff Libunao launched a solo home run to right center in the bottom of the fourth for UNF's first run.
CMU put up five more runs in the fifth. Consecutive singles were followed by a bunt base hit on an attempted sac bunt. Zach Lechnir was walked with the bases loaded before Jakob Marsee hit a grand slam to right.
UNF capitalized on three base on balls in the fifth. Tanner Clark, Zach West and Grant Grodi drew consecutive walks before Abraham Sequera plated Clark with a sacrifice fly to right. Libunao singled home West and Blake Marabell hooked an RBI base knock through the left side.
UNF benefited from a free pass again in the sixth. West drew a two-out walk before Grodi singled to right center. Sequera rolled an RBI single through the right side, scoring West.
The Ospreys threatened in the ninth, scoring once on a Chris Matthias RBI single before leaving the bags loaded.
Righty Jeslyn Whitehead settled in for UNF after taking over in the sixth. The freshman allowed only three hits in four scoreless frames.

Statistical Leaders

CMU

Marsee | 2-for-4, GS, 5 RBI
Zach Lechnir | 2-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI
Chase Rollin | 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI

North Florida

Libunao | 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI
Marabell | 3-for-5, RBI
Sequera | 1-for-2, 2 RBI
Whitehead | 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, BB, K

Notes

Reitz retired the first nine batters of the game.
Libunao hit his second career home run and first since the 2018 season.
UNF has hit seven home runs this season.
The Ospreys posted a season high for walks with nine.
UNF is 4-4 all-time against CMU.
It was UNF's first meeting against CMU as a Division I program.
Whitehead spun a season high 4.0 frames. He didn't allow a run, permitting only three hits.
It was UNF's third double-digit hit performance of the year.
Central Michigan previously took three games from UNLV and split two games from Arizona this season.
CMU had four bunt singles.