Roca Deals, Baseball Eliminates Stetson Behind Eight-Run First

Saturday, May 22

Jacksonville, Fla.

2:05 p.m.

University of North Florida

21-21

Stetson

26-23

Stetson

North Florida

Photo by: Makenzie Blaakman

Roca Deals, Baseball Eliminates Stetson Behind Eight-Run First

5/22/2021 6:16:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Ospreys Advance to the ASUN Championship Final Four

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Just as last night's win went, Stetson jumped out to an early lead in the first but UNF (21-21) pounced on the Hatters (26-23) with an eight-run first frame before Tony Roca settled in for seven strong on the mound in North Florida baseball's 9-2 victory against Stetson Saturday, May 22. UNF advances to the ASUN Championship Final Four with the win, eliminating the Hatters.

UNF's first-inning explosion occurred all with two outs as patience at the plate catalyzed the crucial opening session. North Florida drew seven free passes surrounded by an RBI single and a three-run double to blow the game open and push Stetson to make two pitching changes in the inning.

Roca only allowed two baserunners between the second and seventh inning, earning the lefty his third win of the year.

In typical UNF and Stetson fashion, the game finished in under two and a half hours despite a 51-minute first inning. Equally shocking was the final line score that saw UNF plate nine on just three hits. North Florida walked 10 times, tied for the second most this year.

Pitchers of Record
Win: Tony Roca (3-2)
Loss: Gavin Spoljaric (0-1)

Line Scores
Stetson | 2R, 2H, E, 4 LOB
UNF | 9R, 3H, E, 5 LOB

Behind the Line Score

The Hatters used a trio of walks, a single and an error to put up two runs in the first.
UNF exploded for eight runs in the first inning thanks to seven walks, an RBI single from Cade Westbrook and a bases-clearing three-run double from Abraham Sequera.
The Ospreys went up 9-2 in the fourth. Isaiah Byars and Sequera walked, Byars advanced to third on a deep fly out from Alex Kachler before scoring on a Westbrook RBI fielder's choice.
Neither team pushed one across the rest of the way as Roca, Darin Kilfoyl and Eddie Miller kept Stetson at bay. Lefty Anthony DeFabbia turned in an impressive 7.1 innings of one-run ball after the damage was done.

Statistical Leaders
Stetson

Banks Griffith | 1-for-2, 2B, BB
Andrew MacNeil and Danny Martin | One run each
DeFabbia | ND, 7.1 IP, H, R, 3BB, 6K

UNF

Byars | 0-for-1, 3R, 4BB
Sequera | 1-for-3, 2B, 3RBI, BB
Westbrook | 1-for-4, R, 2RBI
Roca | W, 7.0, 2H, 2R, ER, 4BB, 4K

Notes

Marabell extended his reached base streak to 19 games.
Sweatt has reached safely in 16 straight contests.
UNF tied a season high for runs in an inning with eight in the first. The Ospreys did the same March 27 in a 13-6 win against JU.
Seven different Ospreys scored at least once.
Byars walked four times, one shy of the UNF DI single game record.
UNF is 7-2 against Stetson this year.

Up Next
UNF will play at either 11 a.m. or 3 p.m. Thursday, May 27 in the next round of ASUN Championship competition. UNF awaits its opponent pending the result of Bellarmine and Liberty's series, as well as the rubber game between FGCU and Jacksonville tomorrow in Fort Myers.