Auburndale, FL – Stockton University (1-1) began the 2018 season by splitting the first two of its nine games in Florida. The Ospreys were edged by Westminster (5-4) 2-1 in the opener but rebounded to win the nightcap 5-3. Mike DeSenzo (Pompton Plains/Pequannock) led Stockton with three hits, three runs and three stolen bases in the doubleheader.
 
The teams combined for just three runs and 10 hits in the first game. Stockton struck quickly for a run in the top of the first. DeSenzo led off with a walk, later stole a base and then scored on an RBI double by Stephen Edelstein (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) for an early 1-0 lead.
 
Westminster tied it in the fifth inning with a run on two hits sandwiched around a sacrifice bunt. In the bottom of the sixth, Westminster loaded the bases on two hits, a walk and a Stockton error before plating the eventual winning run on a sacrifice fly. The Ospreys went down in order in the top of the seventh and fell 2-1.
 
DeSenzo finished 1-3 with two stolen bases, a walk and a run. Brandon Perna (Cherry Hill/CH West) allowed two runs (one unearned) on five hits with three strikeouts in five innings pitched, but absorbed the loss.
 
In the 5-3 win that earned the split, DeSenzo was 2-3 with two runs, a walk and a stolen base. Transfer Rico Viani (Monroe Twp./Monroe Twp.) went 2-3 with two RBI, a walk and a run.
 
David Mann (Waldwick/Waldwick) led off the bottom of the second with a walk, moved to third on freshman John Perrino's (Wall/Wall) first career hit and scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Tyler Hobbs (Brick/Brick Memorial) for a 1-0 edge. In the fourth, DeSenzo walked, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Viani to make it 2-0.
 
Leading 2-1, the Ospreys broke the game open with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Viani drove in freshman Garrett DeMarrais (Oradell/River Dell) with an RBI single and Jeff Schick (Marlton/Cherokee) rapped a two-run double that scored DeSenzo and Viani to increase Stockton's lead to 5-1.
 
In the top of the seventh, Westminster closed the gap to 5-3 on a two-run homer by Jaret Johnson and then put runners on first and second with one out. James Manos (Freehold/Freehold Borough) came out of the bullpen to induce a popup and flyout that closed the Ospreys' first victory of the season, 5-3.
 
Starter Ray Hughes (Forked River/Lacey Twp.) earned the win with five scoreless innings in which he allowed just one hit and struck out five. Manos, a sophomore, later recorded his first career save by retiring the only two batters that he faced.
 
Stockton will be back on the field in Florida tomorrow for a single game against Keene State (NH) at 4:30 pm.