Baseball a Big Hit Shy of Completing Comeback at JU

Saturday, May 14

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

20-30, 0

Jacksonville

26-23, 0

North Florida

Jacksonville

Caleb Stafford and Trey Spratling-Williams on base

Spratling-Williams and Stafford both scored in UNF's three-run eighth.

Photo by: Brock Borgeson

5/14/2022 10:41:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - For the second game in as many nights, North Florida baseball created some excitement with a late-inning rally, but stranded runners loomed large as the Ospreys came up one big hit short in a 5-4 loss at Jacksonville Saturday, May 14.

The Ospreys (20-30, 10-16 ASUN) and Dolphins (26-23, 12-14 ASUN) combined to strand 18 runners on the evening. The biggest contributor to that total was arguably UNF's eighth inning, which saw JU get around a bases-loaded jam in North Florida's three-run frame to cut the deficit to just one.

Righty Jason Gonzalez spun another strong start despite earning the loss, going five innings while permitting only two earned runs. Jacksonville's power hitting first baseman, Christian Coipel, turned in what was the game-winning hit, a two-run home run in the seventh.

JU 5, UNF 4

Pitchers of Record
Win: Michael Darrell-Hicks (4-4)
Loss: Jason Gonzalez (5-3)
Save: Tyler Vogel (9)

Line Scores
UNF | 4R, 7H, 4E, 10 LOB
JU | 5R, 8H, E, 8 LOB

Behind the Line Score

JU appeared to set itself up for a big first inning, getting the first two runners on base, but Jason Gonzalez spun some quality pitches to the middle of the order, stranding runners at second and third base.
The Dolphins were patient at the plate, loading the bags and working a hit by pitch to plate the game's first run.
Aidan Sweatt provided the equalizer in the top of the third with a solo home run to left field, turning on a letter-high fastball.
JU's Blake DeLamielleure used his speed to bring JU to a 2-1 lead in the third. He flared a ball into shallow center and turned it into a double as the ball bounced off the glove of a diving Tyler Gerteisen. A bunt and sac fly scored him.
Two singles and a misplay in center on one of the singles allowed JU's Jake Berg to score all the way from first base, giving the Dolphins a 3-1 lead in the sixth.
Christian Coipel hit a two-run home run to right for a 5-1 JU lead in the seventh.
What looked like it was going to be a quiet eighth inning turned into a three-run frame for the Ospreys.
With two outs, Trey Spratling-Williams and Caleb Stafford singled before Grant Grodi plated Spratling-Williams with a base hit.
Justin Holmes stayed hot, doubling in two to cut the deficit to 5-4. Cade Westbrook and Isaiah Byars walked, but JU got a strikeout to strand them loaded.
Abraham Sequera made a huge play in the eighth to keep the deficit to one. With a runner on third, Sequera snagged a lineout and doubled up the runner.
JU's Tyler Vogel nailed down the ninth with a one-two-three frame.

Statistical Leaders
JU

Jackson Grabsky | 2-for-3
Jake Berg | 1-for-3, 2R
Christian Coipel | 1-for-3, 2RBI
Michael Darrell-Hicks | W, 6.0 IP, 3H, ER, 3BB, 6K

UNF

Aidan Sweatt | 2-for-5, R, RBI
Justin Holmes | 1-for-3, 2RBI, 2B
Grant Grodi | 1-for-4, R, RBI
Jason Gonzalez | 5.0 IP, 3H, 2ER, 3BB, 4K

Notes

Sweatt has homered three times, all of which coming from solo shots.
Edge is one hit shy of becoming the fourth Osprey to reach the 60-hit milestone on the year.
The teams combined to strand 18 runners.
UNF's four errors is tied for its second-highest total on the year.
It was Gonzalez's third-straight start going at least five innings while allowing less than two runs.

Up Next
The series finale gets going tomorrow at 1 p.m.