Galloway, NJ – Stockton University (2-0) opened the 2023 season in a big way, as the Ospreys downed Penn College (0-2) in a doubleheader by scores of 3-2 (7 inn.) and 11-1 on Friday afternoon. Freshman Kevin Novobilsky (Ocean Twp./Ocean Twp.) led the team with four hits and three runs on the day.

With senior Mike Schiattarella (Manahawkin/Southern Regional) on the hill, the first game was scoreless until the Wildcats touched him up for a run in the top of the third frame. Stockton took the lead in the fourth on an RBI single by Jordan Nitti (Hamilton/Steinert) and sacrifice fly by Max Kaplan (Wall/Wall) who registered his first career RBI in a Stockton uniform.

Penn College knotted the game up in the fifth before Tucker Elder (Ewing/Ewing) blasted a long homer to right field in the bottom of the frame to give Stockton a 3-2 advantage. Schiattarella, who struck out 12 in six innings of work, shutdown the visitors before giving way to transfer Reece Miller (Toms River/Toms River East).

Miller tossed a scoreless final frame for his first save as an Osprey to seal the 3-2 win. Schiattarella posted his fifth career game with double digit strikeouts.

The nightcap saw some more firsts for the young Ospreys in the blowout victory. With the game scoreless again through three innings, Stockton blasted back-to-back home runs by Kaplan and freshman C.J. Fredericks (Jobstown/Northern Burlington) for a 2-0 lead. It was the first round-trippers for both players at Stockton.

After the Wildcats sliced the lead to 2-1 in the sixth inning, the Ospreys exploded for nine markers over the final three frames for the 11-1 win. Freshman Nick Avagnano (Paramus/Paramus) picked his first RBI and run scored in the sixth to stretch the margin to 4-1.

After two more tallies in the seventh frame, the Ospreys broke out with five markers in the bottom of the eighth. RBI by Antonio Gatti (Howell/Howell), Nitti, Kaplan and two more from Avagnano sealed the game. Gatti's RBI was the first of his career.

A pair of freshmen hurlers combined on the mound for the victory. Stephen DeMilio (Tuckerton/Pinelands Regional) started and threw the first six innings allowing four hits and striking out two as he posted his first collegiate victory. Antonio Sansone (Middletown/Middletown North) came on the finish the game, surrendering just two hits, with six strikeouts, in three innings of work for his first career save.

Stockton will be off until Wednesday when the Ospreys will travel to Reading, PA to face Alvernia for a single game. First pitch is set for 3pm.