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.
Up Next
UNF and Central Michigan will play two seven-inning games tomorrow. First pitch for game one is set for 1:05 p.m.