Barons Lose Nail-Bitter 4-3

Franciscan had its closest game of the season against the Ospreys of The Richard Stockton College from Pomoa, New Jersey on March 19 in spring training action in Coco Beach, Fla. But the Barons were unable to close the gap enough and lost the game 4-3.

Starter Will Peyton gave up two runs for the Ospreys in the first inning. But FUS answered in the top of the second as starter Matt Hunt walked Chris Clynes, Peyton, and Ryan Marrow consecutively to load the bases with two outs. Shortstop Anthony Pontarelli singled to centerfield to drive in Clynes and Peyton and tie the score up at 2-2.

The Ospreys scored again in the fourth when Jay Merulla scored after reaching on a passed ball to lead 3-2. Franciscan took it to the eighth. With runners on second and third, David Dupuy doubled. Second baseman Steve Jagla scored the tying run but third baseman Nathan Cain could not beat out the slide and was out at the plate for the go ahead run. The Ospreys scored on an error in the bottom of the eighth to finalize the score at 4-3.

Peyton gave up 1 earned run off of 4 hits while going the distance for the Barons.

Franciscan's record stands at 1-6.