Baseball’s Comeback Falls Just Short Against Presbyterian on Opening Night

Friday, February 18

Jacksonville, Fla.

6:05 p.m.

University of North Florida

0-1

Presbyterian

1-0

Presbyterian

North Florida

Sequera got the start at first base and drove in a pair.

Baseball’s Comeback Falls Just Short Against Presbyterian on Opening Night

2/18/2022 11:16:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Ospreys Load the Bases in the Ninth Down One

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Down two runs with nobody on and two away in the ninth inning, North Florida had the next four batters reach base as the Ospreys got one back and loaded the bags. Visiting Presbyterian (1-0) was able to snag the last out on an unassisted groundout to third base as UNF's comeback finished just short in an 8-7 loss to the Blue Hose Friday, Feb. 18.

Three of UNF's last four season openers have been decided by one run. UNF (0-1) defeated Missouri and VMI in those contests. The Ospreys left 15 runners on base Friday night. A total of 10 walks helped North Florida crowd the bases throughout most of the game.

Presbyterian 8, UNF 7

Pitchers of Record
Win: Luke Matthew (1-0)
Loss: Tony Roca (0-1)
Save: Eric Toth (1)

Line Scores
PC | 8R, 11H, 6E, 9 LOB
UNF | 7R, 8H, E, 15 LOB

Behind the Line Score

Presbyterian worked three singles back up the box to put up a two spot in the first inning. A slick play by Abraham Sequera on a hot shot to first helped save extra bases and more runs for PC.
Aidan Sweatt led off the first with a hit by pitch and reached third on a failed pickoff attempt. The Blue Hose got the next three outs to strand him.
UNF scored its inaugural run of the year in the third. Cade Reich reached on a fielding error, stole second and with two outs Brock Edge delivered his first hit and RBI as an Osprey, going over the left fielder's head for a two-out RBI double.
UNF loaded the bags in the fourth with two away, but PC got out of the jam thanks to a leaping grab by Sean Klein at third base on a Drew Leinenbach liner.
Presbyterian used four hits, a key wild pitch and a throwing error to plate four in the fifth.
UNF got three back in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the deficit to 6-4. Sequera plated Edge with a single to center. Patience at the plate resulted in two more runs. Grant Grodi drew a bases-loaded walk to score another and Reich was hit by a pitch with the bags loaded.
Presbyterian's Chase Hughes tacked on another run with an opposite field homer to right in the eighth. A pair of singles sandwiched a hit by pitch to give PC two more.
For the second time in the game, Sweatt walked to open the inning and moved to third base on a failed pickoff. Sequera plated him with an RBI groundout.
Isaiah Byars hit a ringing double to center and Cade Westbrook scored him with a single through the left side.
The ninth got dramatic. With two away and nobody out, Leinenbach walked, Sweatt singled, Edge plated one with a single through the right side and later moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch. After Sequera was intentionally walked, Presbyterian got out of the jam after inducing a groundout.

Statistical Leaders
PC

Kyle Decker | 3-for-5, 2R, RBI
Chase Hughes | 1-for-5, HR
Eric Toth | 2-for-5, 2R, SV

UNF

Brock Edge | 3-for-6, 2RBI, 2B
Isaiah Byars | 2-for-6, R, 2B
Abraham Seuqera | 1-for-5, 2RBI, R, BB

Notes

Brock Edge, Dallen Leach, Jason Gonzalez and Drew Leinenbach all made their UNF debuts.
Edge notched his first-career UNF RBI and hits.
Tony Roca tied a career high with seven punchouts.
Neither starting pitcher was eligible for the win.
Grant Grodi drew three walks.