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Nick DiPonzio
Steve Simoneau
5
Stetson STET 23-19, 9-7 ASUN
6
Winner North Florida UNF 17-19, 10-6 ASUN
Stetson STET
23-19, 9-7 ASUN
5
Final
6
North Florida UNF
17-19, 10-6 ASUN
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Stetson STET 2 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 5 10 0
North Florida UNF 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 X 6 8 0

W: SANTOS, Rafael (2-2) L: Gill, Jovan (4-4) S: REITZ, Brandon (6)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Ricky Hazel, Associate AD

Late Run Sinks Hatters in Series Opener

Jacksonville, Fla. – In a game played like both teams could feel the pressure of the situation, North Florida was able to take advantage of some late wildness on the mound to score the winning run on a wild pitch, taking a 6-5 series opening victory over Stetson.
 
The Ospreys (16-19, 10-6) now own a one-game lead over Stetson (23-19, 9-7) for the right to host an ASUN Divisional Play-In Series at home in two weeks. The Hatters will have to beat UNF in each of the next two games in order to avoid returning to Harmon Stadium for that series.
 
The winning run for UNF came across in the eighth inning after Stetson starter Jovan Gill retired the first two Ospreys hitters to start the frame. Gill pitched around the ASUN's leading hitter, Alex Kachler, allowing a four-pitch walk, before being lifted for junior right-hander Garner Spoljaric.
 
Spoljaric walked the first batter he faced, allowed an infield hit to load the bases and then fired a pitch to the screen, allowing Kachler to score from third.
 
That series of events spoiled what had been a solid outing for Gill, who was tagged with the loss. He allowed all six UNF runs on seven hits with just two walks and four strikeouts.
 
Ospreys starting pitcher Max McKinley did not factor into the decision, allowing the five Stetson runs on 10 hits over 5.1 innings of work. Rafael Santos worked 2.2 scoreless innings to get the win and Brandon Reitz closed out the game in the ninth for the save.
 
The game was back-and-forth all night. Stetson scored two in the first, and UNF answered. The Hatters added a run in the third and, again, UNF answered. The Ospreys took the lead with two in the fifth, but Stetson answered with a pair in the sixth.
 
The Hatters were led offensively by Andrew MacNeil, Hernen Sardinas, Nick DiPonzio and Christian Pregent with two hits each. Karchler and Abraham Sequera led UNF with two hits each.
 
The Hatters will attempt to even the weekend series on Saturday. Neither team has announced a starting pitcher for the game, which is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start. The series finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Stetson will get one more chance at Florida next Tuesday night in DeLand. That game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start and is sold out.
 
Game Facts
  • Win – Rafael Santos (2-2)
  • Loss – Jovan Gill (4-4)
  • Save – Brandon Reitz (6)
  • Time – 2:21
Scoring Summary
  • T1 – Andrew McNeil led off the game with a triple and then came home on a single by Kyle Ball. Hernen Sardinas moved Ball to third with a single to right and Banks Griffith plated him with a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 Stetson lead.
  • B1 – Abraham Sequera reached on a one-out single to center and Alex Kachler followed with a two-run homer to tie the game at 2-2.
  • T4 – Nick DiPonzio led off with a double, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out single by MacNeil for a 3-2 Stetson lead.
  • B4 – Cade Westbrook reached on an infield single, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Aidan Sweatt, tying the game at 3-3.
  • B5 – Tanner Clark singled with one out and Sequera followed one out later with a home run to right, giving UNF a 5-3 lead.
  • T6 – After DiPonzio led off with a single to center, Christian Pregent hit an opposite field home run to tie the game at 5-5.
  • B8 – Gill retired the first two batters in the inning before walking Kachler. Garner Spoljaric came on in relief, allowing a walk and an infield single before uncorking a wild pitch to score Kachler. 
Hatters Notes
  • MacNeil reached base to start the Hatters sixth straight game. He has now reached base to open games 20 times in 42 games this season.
  • The leadoff triple was the fourth of the season for MacNeil and the sixth three-base hit of his career.
  • The home run for Pregent was his third of the season and the fourth of his career.
  • MacNeil tied his season and career highs by hitting safely in his eighth consecutive game.
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.
 
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