Baseball Drops Weekend Opener

Friday, April 14

Jacksonville, Fla.

6:05 p.m.

University of North Florida

17-16, 5-8

Central Arkansas

16-17, 7-6

Central Arkansas

North Florida

Tony Roca throwing a pitch against Jacksonville State

Photo by: Todd Drexler

4/14/2023 9:25:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - In the first-ever meeting between North Florida baseball and Central Arkansas, the visiting Bears got the better end of the contest as UNF (17-16, 5-8 ASUN) dropped the weekend opener against UCA (16-17, 7-6 ASUN), 5-0, Friday, April 14.

UNF loaded the bags in the bottom of the ninth, but UCA righty Jesse Barker buckled down to induce a fly out and secure the complete game shutout.

UCA 5, UNF 0

Pitchers of Record
Win: Jesse Barker (5-2)
Loss: Peter Holden (3-4)

Line Scores
UCA | 5R, 12H, 2E, 4 LOB
UNF | 0R, 5H, E, 8 LOB

Behind the Line Score

UCA took a 2-0 lead in the second after a double was followed by a two-out single back up the box. A single, muffed throw on a pickoff and a bloop single to right gave the Bears their second run.
Peter Holden made a play on a popped up bunt and keyed the third out with a pickoff play with runners at first and third as UNF got the runner at home to get out of the jam in the fifth.
Four hits including consecutive doubles, a single up the middle and a successful squeeze play made it 4-0 UCA in the sixth. Holden did make a nice play flipping the ball home for the tag on another squeeze attempt to limit the scoring.
UNF threatened with two outs in the sixth. Austin Brinling singled through the right side and Aidan Sweatt hooked a double down the line. But, Jesse Barker coaxed a popout to close the frame.
Kolby Johnson hit a solo home run to left center to make it 5-0 UCA in the eighth.
Cade Reich singled with one out, Cherokee Nichols was hit by a pitch and Gabriel Esquivel was plunked by another, loading the bases for Dallen Leach. But, Barker got tough to get the final out on a fly out to center.

Statistical Leaders
UCA

Jesse Barker | CG, 9.0 IP, 5H, 0ER, 0BB, 5K, 106 pitches
Drew Sturgeon | 2-for-5, 2B
Kolby Johnson | 2-for-4, 2R, 2RBI

UNF

Aidan Sweatt | 1-for-4, 2B
Matthew Clements | 1-for-3
Tony Roca | 1.2 IP, 0ER, 0H, 0BB, 3K, 17 pitches

Notes

Tony Roca has spun three-straight outings of one-run or less while fanning eight over the last six innings
It was the first-ever meeting between the two teams and subsequently first-ever contest as league foes
North Florida was held without a walk for the first time since April 29, 2022 against Kennesaw State in a 3-0 win
Holden has gone at least five innings in all nine starts this year
Holden tied a season long with 7.1 innings pitched
It was the first time UNF was shut out since April 3 at Stetson last year in a seven-inning game. It was the first time UNF was shut out in a nine-inning game since Feb. 26 against UConn of last season.

Up Next
North Florida and UCA are slated for a doubleheader beginning at 2:05 p.m. tomorrow. Game two will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.

Tomorrow was originally set to be one nine-inning game, although potential rain Sunday moved up the contest to tomorrow.