JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Villanova and North Florida (UNF) combined for 29 hits on Saturday afternoon at Harmon Stadium, but it was UNF who had the edge as Villanova fell, 13-11.

Villanova was the first team to get on the board early in the top of the second with freshman outfielder, Collin Quintano, hitting his first collegiate home run. Teammate third baseman Steve Grober was batted in Quintano's homer.
 
The Osprey answered back opening the following half inning with a home run of their own by Gabriel Esquivel. UNF equalized the score with two on and two out, junior pitcher Devin Rivera threw a wild pitch which UNF's Cade Reich ran in from third. At the end of second the 'Cats were tied 2-2.
 
Shortstop Craig Larsen lead off the top of the third and immediately homered to right center field to take the 3-2 lead for the Wildcats. UNF pitcher Tony Roca was able to get his team out of the half inning fanning two batters. The Osprey opened the bottom of the third with Austin Brinling hitting a leadoff triple to get into scoring position. Brinling made his way home on the next play as teammate Jakob Runnels hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Rivera struggled in the inning allowing the Osprey another run to take a 5-3 lead on the 'Cats. Rivera was replaced on the mound by graduate transfer Stephen Turzai who tossed a two-run dinger to Reich extending the Osprey led to 7-3 by the end of the third.
 
Villanova chipped away at UNF's lead by scoring three runs in the top of the fourth to get back to a one run game (7-6). Turzai had a good fourth inning, striking out one and getting the ball in play to a ready Wildcat defense. Sophomore catcher Josue Valdez caught a foul for an exciting out in the bottom of the fourth.
 
UNF made pitching change to start the fifth with Will Ohme making quick work of the 'Cats allowing only one hit and no runs. Cade Udell took over for Turzai to start the bottom of the fifth by throwing a home run hit by Alex Lodise to make the score 8-6. Udell tossed two strikeouts to follow.
 
With a man on first and second, Larsen once again got a big hit in the top of the sixth driving the two home with a huge double to right center. The Wildcats took the lead 9-8. Later in the inning, with two on and one out, Grober singled through the left side driving one home. The Osprey were scoreless in the sixth but scored five runs in the seventh to reclaim the 13-10 lead.
 
First baseman Jack O'Reilly launched a bomb down the right field wall to make the score 13-11 at the top of the eighth. Graduate transfer Luke Dziados was able to get the ball in play and let the Wildcat defense do their job, ending the eighth with a great double play from Cameron Hassert to Larsen, to O'Reilly.
 
Unfortunately, the Wildcats were not able to make up the two-run deficit in the top of the ninth and fell to the Osprey 13-11.
 
The 'Cats return tomorrow Sunday Feb. 26 for the last game of the series against UNF.  First pitch is set for a 12:05 p.m. Fans can watch live on the UNF livestream.