Auburndale, Fla. – Stockton University (3-4) began its eight-game trip to Florida for spring break with a 5-2 setback to Beloit College (Wis.) (1-0). Jordan Nitti (Hamilton/Steinert) rapped two of Stockton's five hits.
 
Freshman Kevin Novobilsky (Ocean Twp./Ocean Twp.) hit his first career home run. Novobilsky scored both of Stockton's runs and also walked once. Antonio Gatti (Howell/Howell) smacked a double for the Ospreys.
 
In the top of the first, Novobilsky walked, moved to third on a single by Nitti and scored on a sacrifice fly by Gatti for an early 1-0 lead. Beloit answered with two runs on two hits and a walk in the bottom of the first to jump ahead 2-1.
 
Beloit added a run on consecutive doubles in the fourth inning to make it 3-1. Novobilsky led off the sixth frame with his first college home run to pull the Ospreys within 3-2, but they would get no closer as they were shut out for the last three innings. Beloit scored once each in the seventh and eighth innings for the 5-2 final.
 
Mike Schiattarella (Manahawkin/Southern Regional) pitched six solid innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with six strikeouts. Schiattarella left the game with Stockton trailing 3-2, and he absorbed the loss when the Ospreys could not rally.
 
Stockton will play a pair of games in Florida tomorrow, taking on Western New England at 9:15 a.m. followed by St. John Fisher at 12:45 p.m.