Jacksonville, Fla. – In a preview of what is sure to be a closely contested series next weekend for the right to play in the 2021 ASUN Tournament, UNF got a solo home run from Blake Marabell in the eighth inning on Sunday at Harmon Stadium to take a 3-2 victory over Stetson.
The loss snapped the Hatters' three-game win streak and dropped Stetson's record to 26-21 for the season. UNF improved to 19-21 on the year. It was the Ospreys' fifth win in seven games against Stetson this year.
Stetson scored single runs in the first and fourth innings to build a 2-0 lead, but the Hatters were never able to find any rhythm offensively as UNF changed pitchers every inning. The Hatters managed just five hits in the game and UNF pitchers walked just three, with eight strikeouts.
Stetson left six runners on base.
The Hatters used just two pitchers on the afternoon. Junior
Garner Spoljaric made his second start of the week, working four and two-third innings. He allowed two runs, but just one earned, on five hits. He walked three and struck out three.
Bret Neilan came in to pitch for Stetson in the fifth, getting out of a bases loaded jam. Neilan retired the first seven Ospreys he faced before Marabell led off the eighth inning with his sixth home run of the year. It was the third homer he has hit against Stetson, and the second off Neilan, who retired the next three Ospreys in order.
Stetson's last best scoring chance came in the fifth inning against Ryan Jean when he hit
Andrew MacNeil with a pitch with one out. A walk followed, but Jean was able to get
Kyle Ball on a ground ball and
Hernen Sardinas on a fly out to get out of the inning.
The Hatters and Ospreys will open their ASUN Divisional Play-In series on Friday evening at 6 p.m. back at Harmon Stadium. All three games in the series are scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+ with Richard Miller and Hunter Bowling calling the action.
Game Facts
- Win – Eddie Miller (1-1)
- Loss – Bret Neilan (1-3)
- Save – Brandon Reitz (8)
- Time – 2:28
Scoring Summary
- T1 – Andrew MacNeil led off with a single, stole second, moved up to third and then scored on ground balls by Danny Martin and Kyle Ball.
- T4 – Ball, Eric Foggo and Banks Griffith deliver consecutive hits to give Stetson a 2-0 lead.
- B4 – Blake Marabell raced all the way to third base when Connor Kehl lost his fly ball in the sun. A sacrifice fly by Aidan Sweatt drove in the unearned run.
- B5 – Isaiah Byars was hit by a pitch to open the inning and came in to score on a two-out single by Blake Marabell to tie to game at 2-2.
- B8 – Marabell led off the inning with a home run to give UNF a 3-2 lead.
Hatters Notes
- MacNeil led off the game with a hit, the 22nd time this year he has reached base to start a game. The hit also extended his career-best hitting streak to 13 games.
- When MacNeil was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning, he tied the Stetson career record held by Patrick Mazeika. MacNeil has now been hit 48 times in his career.
- Before Stetson's game started, Mazeika picked up his first career hit as a member of the New York Mets when he homered to right at Tropicana Field against the Rays.
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.
