Ospreys Oust Stetson in Back-and-Forth Game, 6-5

Friday, May 7

Jacksonville, Fla.

6:05 p.m.

University of North Florida

17-19, 10-6

Stetson

23-19, 9-7

Stetson

North Florida

Rafael Santos getting ready to throw a pitch

Santos didn't allow a baserunner in 2.2 innings of relief, earning the win.

Photo by: Rob Davis

5/7/2021 9:35:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

North Florida Scores Game-Winning Run in the Eighth

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida baseball (17-19, 10-6 ASUN) rose to the occasion in a big series opener, battling blow for blow with Stetson (23-19, 9-7 ASUN) before scoring the game-winning run on a wild pitch in the eighth inning for a crucial 6-5 victory against the Hatters Friday, May 7.

UNF is 10-6 in the ASUN and one game ahead of Stetson for second place in the ASUN South Division standings.

Alex Kachler and Abraham Sequera kept pace with each other for the team lead in home runs, as both tallied a two-run shot. Brandon Reitz spun his sixth save, tying him for the sixth-most saves in a single season in UNF DI history.

Rafael Santos earned the win, tossing 2.2 spotless innings of masterful middle relief. The Ospreys flashed the leather as well, not committing a defensive miscue while seeing Aidan Sweatt make an over the shoulder diving catch at shortstop in the second inning.

Pitchers of Record
Win: Rafael Santos (2-2)
Loss: Jovan Gill (4-4)
Save: Brandon Reitz (6)

Line Scores
Stetson | 5R, 10H, 0E, 7 LOB
UNF | 6R, 8H, 0E, 4 LOB

Behind the Line Score

Stetson jumped ahead to a 2-0 lead in the first. Andrew MacNeil tripled, Kyle Ball singled and Banks Griffith eventually scored Ball on a sac fly.
Alex Kachler blasted a two-run home run to left center to even the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the first, scoring Abraham Sequera.
The Hatters got the lead again, scoring once in the third after a double from Nick DiPonzio and a MacNeil two-out single.
After reaching on an infield single, Cade Westbrook advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on an Aidan Sweatt two-out RBI double down the left field line.
Sequera unloaded for a long two-run home run in the trees beyond the road in right field, putting UNF up 5-3 in the fifth.
Stetson evened it again in the sixth on a two-run home run to right center from Christian Pregent.
Santos was strong in relief, retiring eight straight batters between the fifth and eighth inning.
UNF scored the game-winning run in the eighth.
After two quick outs, Kachler coaxed a free pass, stole second and moved up to third on an infield single. One batter later, Stetson's reliever Garner Spoljaric uncorked a wild pitch, scoring Kachler.
Reitz worked a one-two-three ninth inning for his sixth save.

Statistical Leaders
Stetson

MacNeil | 2-for-5, R, RBI, 3B
Sardinas | 2-for-4
DiPonzio | 2-for-4, 2R
Pregent | 2-for-4, R, 2RBI

UNF

Kachler | 2-for-3, HR, 2R, 2RBI, SB, BB
Sequera | 2-for-4, 2R, 2RBI
Santos | 2.2 IP, 0H, 0ER, 0BB, 2K

Notes

Kachler and Sequera have seven home runs apiece this season.
North Florida stranded only four runners.
UNF is 3-1 against Stetson this year.
This was the first game at Harmon Stadium between these two teams since the 2018 ASUN Championship.
UNF is 4-2 in ASUN series openers this year.

Up Next
Game two is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. tomorrow, May 8.