Runners Left on Loom in Series-Opening Loss at JU, 7-4

Thursday, May 18

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

28-25, 0

Jacksonville

31-22, 0

North Florida

Jacksonville

Holden went at least six innings for the 14th consecutive time.

Photo by: Noah Thomas

5/18/2023 11:12:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Ospreys Lead Early But Strand 15

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida baseball (28-25, 13-15 ASUN) created a 2-0 lead and continued to apply pressure, but JU's (31-22, 15-13 ASUN) four-run third inning and UNF's 15 stranded runners cost the Ospreys in a 7-4 series-opening loss across town Thursday, May 18.

JU scored three unearned on the evening, while North Florida outhit the Dolphins but had just one extra-base hit on a double from Aidan Sweatt.

JU 7, UNF 4

Pitchers of Record
Win: Evan Chrest (7-2)
Loss: Peter Holden (4-5)
Save: Chris Lotito (14)

Line Scores
UNF | 4R, 8H, 4E, 15 LOB
JU | 7R, 7H, E, 7 LOB

Behind the Line Score

UNF pushed one across in the first and forced starter Evan Chrest into 26 pitches. Austin Brinling and Aidan Sweatt caused problems for Chrest, singling before Brinling took third on a fielder's choice. Alex Lodise rolled a fielder's choice to score Brinling.
The top of the order was pesky again. Brinling walked with two outs, Sweatt hooked a double just over the third base bag, Runnels walked as did Lodise. Lodise worked the count back from down 0-2 to draw the free pass.
JU put up four in the third, started by consecutive doubles into the right field corner. A throwing error on a bunt, sac bunt, walk, wild pitch and two-RBI single up the middle from Kris Armstrong made it 4-2.
Holden fanned two more in the fourth, but JU scratched one across after Hogan McIntosh doubled off the left center wall and was plated on an error.
Holden came up with a huge two-strikeout effort in the fifth, helping to strand two runners after they both reached to open the inning.
Esquivel was hit by a pitch and came around to score after Dallen Leach singled and Brinling eventually laced a one-out base hit to left center. JU reliever Leighton Alley was able to get the final out, stranding the bags loaded.
A leadoff walk ended up being an unearned run in favor of JU in the sixth.
Cherokee Nichols was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a grounder, took third on a Gabriel Esquivel single and scored on a Leach sac fly to cut the deficit to 6-4 in the seventh.
Colin Wetterau golfed a low and inside curveball for a solo homer in the eighth.

Statistical Leaders
UNF

Austin Brinling | 2-for-5, 2R
Aidan Sweatt | 2-for-5
Peter Holden | 6.2 IP, 6H, 6R, 3ER, 3BB, 9K, 111 pitches

Hogan McIntosh | 2-for-4, 2R, RBI
Colin Wetterau | 1-for-3, HR
Evan Chrest | 5.2 IP, 6H, 3R, 2ER, 3BB, 5K, 103 pitches

Notes

Brinling extended his reached base streak to 25 games and his hitting streak to a 2023 best
This was the 90th total meeting between the two teams
Sweatt pushed his multi-hit game total to 24.
Holden tied the UNF single season DI-era record for games started.
Holden has gone at least five frames in 14-straight outings and in 23 of 24 starts at North Florida
UNF's four errors was its most in league play

Up Next
North Florida and JU meet for game two tomorrow night at 7 p.m.