FORT MYERS, Fla. - In a game that saw 21 combined runners left on base, North Florida baseball was two runs short against Eastern Kentucky in a 5-3 loss to the Colonels to open up ASUN Championship Pool Play at JetBlue Park Tuesday, May 24.
The Ospreys (21-33) left eight on, while EKU (36-19) left 13 on the bases as both teams had multiple chances to either take the lead or open up their lead. Despite being held to five hits, UNF coaxed seven walks, although EKU helped negate that with a pair of key double plays.
A pair of sac flies stood as the lone two runs until EKU scored two in consecutive innings during the fifth and sixth inning, taking the lead for good. The Colonels used six pitchers, while North Florida sent out four in the inaugural game of Pool B competition.
EKU 5, UNF 3
Pitchers of Record
Win: Vladimir Ceverino (2-0)
Loss:
Peter Holden (4-3)
Save: Will Brian (15)
Line Scores
UNF | 3R, 5H, 3E, 9 LOB
EKU | 5R, 13H, E, 13 LOB
Behind the Line Score
- UNF scored first, pushing one across in the first. Isaiah Byars reached on an infield single and Brock Edge walked. After a pop out, Cade Westbrook grinded out a walk after fouling a series of pitches off. Aidan Sweatt scored Byars with a sac fly.
- EKU traded sac flies with UNF by scoring one on its own in the bottom of the first.
- Holden stranded three runners over the next two innings to keep things even at 1-1 through three.
- UNF loaded the bags with two outs in the fourth, having three-straight reach before EKU got an inning-ending 6-4 fielder's choice.
- North Florida had a good opportunity in the fifth, getting runners to first and second with nobody out. But, two lineouts and a groundout got EKU out of it.
- A single, walk and consecutive RBI singles gave EKU a 3-1 lead through five. Max McKinley limited further damage, stranding the bases loaded.
- UNF had another opportunity in the sixth, getting the first two runners on. After EKU made another pitching change, the Colonels induced a 6-4-3 double play on a hot-shot one hopper before getting out number three on a groundout.
- EKU scored its fourth run with its second sac fly of the game. One batter later, a double to the left center gap scored EKU's fifth run after a relay throw to home was high.
- After getting the first two batters on base in the seventh, a double play got EKU within one out of keeping its 5-1 lead. But, a booted ball on a grounder from Abraham Sequera and a two-out slicing RBI single to left scored Sequera to get UNF within, 5-3.
- Justin Holmes laced a leadoff double into the gap to open the ninth, but EKU's closer Will Brian got the next three batters.
Statistical Leaders
EKU
- Max Williams | 3-for-5, 3R
- Logan Thomason | 2-for-4, 2B, R, RBI, BB
- Will King | 1-for-3, 2RBI
UNF
Notes
- It was the first-ever meeting between these two teams.
- It was UNF's first neutral site game of the season.
- It was Holden's only start not going five innings this season.
- Cade Westbrook is one hit shy of 60 for the season. With one more he would bring North Florida to five guys with 60 hits, the first time UNF has done that since 2016.
- Sweatt is a hit shy of 70. He would be the first Osprey to reach 70 since Tanner Murphy did so in 2018.
- The two teams combined to strand 21 runners.
- It was UNF's first game at a non-collegiate field since UNF played three games at the Pensacola Blue Wahoos park in 2019.
- Five hits was UNF's fewest in a game since April 29.
Up Next
North Florida plays game two of pool play tomorrow night at 7 p.m. against Jacksonville. That game will be played at FGCU's Swanson Stadium.
