Immaculata, PA – Stockton University (9-8) saw the offense explode for 16 runs and 18 hits as Stockton took a decisive 16-8 win over Immaculata University (4-14) on Tuesday afternoon in a non-conference road tilt. Joe Gmitter (Hamilton/Steinert), Robbie Ford (Green Twp./Newton) and freshman Evan Palmer (Manchester/Manchester Twp.) led the way with three hits each.
 
The Ospreys started strong against the Mighty Macs, scoring six times in the second frame. Michael Antonucci (Manasquan/Manasquan) and Nick Avagnano (Paramus/Paramus) each cracked a double that accounted for four RBI. Gmitter and Russell Halvorsen (Howell/Howell) drove in a run each for the six-run cushion.
 
Avagnano plated his third RBI of the game in the third, then Stockton added another single marker in the fourth on an error for an 8-0 lead. Immaculata broke through with two runs in their half of the fourth to slice the margin to 8-2.
 
The Ospreys kept up the pressure in the fifth with three more tallies, with RBI coming from Avagnano, Gmitter and Ford for an 11-2 advantage. Gmitter made it 13-2 in the sixth before the home team sliced the margin to 13-7 with a five-run outburst in the bottom half of the stanza.
 
Palmer gave Stockton some breathing room the next inning with his first carer home run, a two-run blast, and a 15-7 lead. Both squads tacked on single runs in the final two innings to set the 16-8 victory for Stockton.
 
Palmer rapped his first collegiate hits, scored four runs, and had his first two RBI in the game. Gmitter and Avagnano drove in four runs each, with Halvorsen also driving in two RBI. Avagnano extended his hitting streak to seven straight games and 10 of last 11 contests.
 
Rob Jeans (Toms River/Toms River North), the first of five Osprey hurlers, pitched the first five innings, allowing three hits with one walk and six strikeouts for his first win of the season.
 
Ryna Nace led the Might Macs with two hits and four RBI on the day.

Stockton will have a quick turnaround, as the Ospreys will travel to Salisbury, MD to face Salisbury University tomorrow at 3pm. The Sea Gulls are ranked #8 nationally by D3Baseball.com/NCBWA.