Bats Erupt in Extras, Baseball Snags Series Finale at FGCU

Sunday, May 2

Fort Myers, Fla.

1 p.m.

University of North Florida

16-18, 9-6

FGCU

24-16, 10-5

UNF

FGCU

Westbrook homered and drove in four runs.

Photo by: Todd Drexler

5/2/2021 5:43:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Westbrook Drives in Four Runs, Sequera Hits Safely Five Times

FORT MYERS, Fla. - A dramatic conclusion to UNF baseball's three-game set at FGCU ended in North Florida's favor as the Ospreys (16-18, 9-6 ASUN) plated four runs in the 10th to defeat FGCU, 7-3, Sunday, May 2. Three program records were tied and multiple season bests were set in the series-finale win.

UNF got out to an early 3-0 lead and held it until FGCU (24-16, 10-5 ASUN) tied the game in the ninth. Isaiah Byars made a crucial relay through to cut down FGCU's initial attempt at the tying run, just prior to FGCU's game-tying RBI hit by pitch.

Tied 3-3 in the top of the tenth, Abraham Sequera singled, Alex Kachler doubled and Cade Westbrook capped his four-RBI day with an RBI base knock to left. Blake Marabell and Aidan Sweatt followed suit with their own singles, expanding UNF's lead to 7-3.

Eddie Miller allowed one baserunner in the 10th, but got the final three outs.

In the designated hitter spot, Sequera doubled in the second, fourth, sixth and eighth inning to tie a program record for doubles in a game. Sequera tied David Eldredge who completed that feat April 2, 2010 at East Tennessee State. Sequera also laced a single to start the 10th-inning rally, tying the UNF DI record for hits in a game with five. Kachler tied that same hits in a game record with five in UNF's win against Jacksonville last Sunday.

Kachler was intentionally walked three times, tying another program record. Kachler is one of three Ospreys to be walked intentionally on three occasions in the same game. The last to do so was Jon Dandridge against Indiana March 13, 2007.

Despite taking a no-decision, lefty Austin Bogart spun his third consecutive quality start with a season best 6.1 innings pitched. He only allowed one earned run in the effort.

Pitchers of Record
Win: Brandon Reitz (1-2)
Loss: Hunter McGarry (1-2)

Line Scores
UNF | 7R, 15H, 2E, 16 LOB
FGCU | 3R, 7H, 2E, 10 LOB

Behind the Line Score

With two outs in the first, Cade Westbrook belted a two-run home run to right for a 2-0 lead in the first. Westbrook's homer scored Isaiah Byars who reached with a leadoff walk.
UNF threatened over the next two innings before adding one run in the fourth. Byars walked, moved to third on an Abraham Sequera double to center and scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Westbrook. The play went left field to second base as the Eagles retired Alex Kachler at second after he was intentionally walked.
Johnny Long got FGCU on the board with a solo home run to left in the sixth.
FGCU got within one in the seventh. Ian Farrow delivered a single on a 3-2 offering, took second on a passed ball and scored on a Stephen Wilmer single up the middle.
Brandon Reitz took over for Austin Bogart in the seventh, inheriting two runners with one out. Reitz sawed off Marc Coffers to get a soft lineout. He recorded the final out of the frame when Johnny Long lined out to Blake Marabell in center.
FGCU put two on with two out in the eighth before Reitz got Alejandro Figueredo to fly out to end the inning.
A drama filled ninth featured a play at the plate and FGCU's tying run on a hit batter. With runners at first and second and one out, Johnny Long singled to right center, although a relay throw from Byars got Cam Krzeminski at the plate. FGCU eventually tied it up when Richie Garcia was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
North Florida blew the game open with the four-run tenth. Singles from Sequera, Westbrook, Marabell and Sweatt surrounded a Kachler double.

Statistical Leaders
UNF

Westbrook | 3-for-6, HR, 4RBI
Sequera | 5-for-6, 42B, R
Sweatt | 3-for-6, 2RBI
Marabell | 3-for-6, R, RBI, 2B
Bogart | ND, 6.1IP, 5H, 2R, ER, BB, 4K

FGCU

Long | 2-for-4, HR
Wilmer | 2-for-4, RBI
Jason Woodward | 3.2IP, H, 2BB, 6K

Notes

Caleb Stafford made his first start as an Osprey.
Sweatt made his first start at shortstop as an Osprey.
Byars reached to leadoff the game in all three games of the series.
Cade Westbrook started in right field for the first time this season.
It was Westbrook's first home run of the season and second start at the cleanup spot.
Sequera played in his 100th game in the Navy and Gray.
Byars made his first start at second base as an Osprey.
Sequera's four doubles ties a program record. It's only been done one other time in UNF history.
Kachler's three intentional walks is the most by an Osprey since Jon Dandridge received three intentional free passes against Indiana March 13, 2007.
Bogart went a season long 6.1 innings, spinning his third consecutive outing of at least six frames.