Auburndale, Fla. – Stockton University (8-6) finished its eight-game stay in Florida by scoring 29 runs in a pair of victories. The Ospreys defeated Cornell College (7-5) 11-5 and then Central College (6-5) 18-8.
Kevin Novobilsky (Ocean Twp./Ocean Twp.) totaled five hits, seven RBI and five runs on the day.
Novobilsky went 3-5 with a double, home run, three runs and three RBI against Cornell.
Nick Avagnano (Paramus/Paramus) was 2-4 with a double, run, RBI and a walk.
Stockton trailed 5-1 before taking the lead with five runs in the fifth inning. Novobilsky blasted a three-run homer and Avagnano added an RBI double in the big inning. The Ospreys scored four more runs in the seventh frame and one in the eighth for the 11-5 final.
Mike Schiattarella (Manahawkin/Southern Regional) earned the win with eight innings pitched, allowing five runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts.
Novobilsky went 2-5 with four RBI and two runs in the win over Central. Avagnano was 2-6 with a triple, two runs and two RBI.
Antonio Gatti (Howell/Howell) chipped in with three runs, three RBI and two walks.
Stockton trailed 5-2 before exploding for 16 runs in its last five offensive turns. Novobilsky singled in two runs in the fourth inning to give the Ospreys the lead for good at 6-5. After Central closed within 9-8, Stockton created some distance with three runs in the sixth stanza.
Avagnano delivered an RBI single and
Cooper Fiore (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove) smacked a two-run double that scored Avagnano and Gatti to increase the lead to 12-8. After one run in the seventh inning, Stockton clinched the 18-8 win with five runs in the eighth. A two-run single by Novobilsky was the key blow.
Stockton will return to New Jersey and play four home games next week, starting with a matchup against Arcadia on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
