JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - With two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the game even at 1-1, sophomore
Aidan Sweatt jumped on a first-pitch fastball and cleared the left field wall for a walk-off solo home run as the Ospreys won in dramatic fashion against a tough USF team, 2-1, Wednesday, March 2.
It was Sweatt's first-career home run, and it came at the best time possible, lifting North Florida (2-8) past a Bulls (5-3) team that had outscored opponents 33-5 over their last three games.
Not to be lost on the walk-off home run was left-handed pitcher
Tony Roca's sparkling outing. The southpaw would pick up the no-decision, but he was both tenacious and effective, going seven shutout innings, allowing only two hits and three walks while fanning eight.
The lefty hurled 123 pitches, the last being strike three for a clutch punchout, standing USF with the bases loaded in the seventh.
UNF 2, USF 1
Pitchers of Record
Win:
Jason Gonzalez (1-1)
Loss: Jack Cebert (1-2)
Line Scores
USF | 1R, 3H, E, 6 LOB
UNF | 2R, 7H, 0E, 9 LOB
Behind the Line Score
- UNF had a great opportunity to score in the third with runners at first and second, but Cade Westbrook's line drive back up the box was snared by USF's Keanu Jacobs-Guishard.
- The Ospreys broke the 0-0 deadlock with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Abraham Sequera walked, Westbrook singled through the shift and Isaiah Byars singled Sequera home with an RBI groundout through the right side. Dallen Leach almost put UNF up a few more, but a line drive was snagged at shortstop once again.
- Tony Roca dug deep and fanned USF's Jackson Mayo with the bags loaded, doing so on pitch number 123.
- Drew Brutcher swung on a 3-0 count and hit a solo home run down the left field line, just inside the pole in the top of the eighth.
- With two outs in the ninth, Sweatt came through with the walk-off home run to left field. Sweatt hit it on the first pitch for his first-career home run. USF's Mayo looked to have a beat on the ball and gave a last second effort to rob it, although it sailed over the fence.
Statistical Leaders
USF
- Drew Brutcher | 2-for-4, HR
- Carmine Lane | 1-for-4, 2B
UNF
Notes
- Today's game completed a stretch of six-straight games for UNF in which it has played a participant in the 2021 NCAA Baseball Championship.
- Nine of UNF's 10 games have been against teams that were in NCAA postseason play last year.
- Roca's outing was the longest for a UNF starter this season.
- It was UNF's first home run of the season.
- The last time UNF held a team to three hits or fewer was May 22 of last season when the Ospreys downed Stetson, 9-2, holding the Hatters to two hits.
- Jason Gonzalez earned his first win as an Osprey.
- UNF improves to 12-10 all-time against USF.
Up Next
UNF stays at home to host Boston College Friday through Sunday at Harmon Stadium.
