JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Stetson was unable to keep up with North Florida on a windy Friday afternoon at Harmon Stadium as the Ospreys blasted three home runs in downing the Hatters 8-4.

Hatters Sophomore Christian Pregent collected two extra base hits, including his fourth home run of the year, but it was not enough to keep pace as Stetson left 10 runners on base in the game.

Sophomore Nick Durgin (1-4) started and took the loss on the mound for Stetson (21-24, 6-16). UNF touched him up for six runs on a season-high 10 hits in his 5.1 innings of work. He surrendered a pair of runs to the Ospreys (19-27, 9-13) in the first on three consecutive two-out hits. Abraham Sequera hit a solo homer in the third, Isaiah Byars his a two-run shot in the fourth and Grant Grodi led off the sixth with a solo shot.

UNF starter Peter Holden (4-2) didn't get away unblemished, but wriggled out of trouble in each of the first two innings, stranding a pair of Hatters in both. Stetson finally got on the board in the fourth inning when Cam Hill delivered a two-out, two-run triple. Nick DiPonzio led off the fifth a solo homer, his first of the year, and Pregent led off the sixth with a solo shot to get Stetson to within 5-4.

The Ospreys put a pair of insurance runs on the board in the seventh inning off Bret Neilan, scoring one on a double play grounder and the second on a wild pitch.

UNF relievers Stephen Halstead and Max McKinley combined to blank the Hatters the rest of the way. Stetson threatened in the ninth when Hill and Ball opened with consecutive hits, but McKinley came in from the pen to record three consecutive strikeouts, all looking, to slam the door and earn his second save of the year.

Pregent, Hill and Ball led the way for Stetson with two hits each. Cade Westbrook led UNF's 13-hit attack with three hits.

Stetson will try to even the series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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