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University of North Florida Athletics

Tony Roca throwing a pitch against Jacksonville State
Todd Drexler
5
Winner Central Arkansas UCA 16-17, 7-6 ASUN
0
North Florida UNF 17-16, 5-8 ASUN
Winner
Central Arkansas UCA
16-17, 7-6 ASUN
5
Final
0
North Florida UNF
17-16, 5-8 ASUN
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Central Arkansas UCA 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 5 12 2
North Florida UNF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1

W: BARKER, Jesse (5-2) L: Holden, Peter (3-4)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Drops Weekend Opener

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
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.
 
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