Tallahassee, Fla. - After 65 previous meetings, Stetson and Bethune-Cookman met in the post-season for the first time Saturday afternoon in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional. The Hatters (42-20) improved to 56-10 lifetime against B-CU (33-27) with a 12-0 victory to eliminate the Wildcats.Â
Stetson advances to face the host and top seeded Florida State Seminoles, who lost to Mississippi State 3-0 in Saturyday's nightcap, at 1:00 p.m. If Stetson wins that game, they would then get a rematch with Mississippi State at 7:00 p.m. The Hatters would have to beat the Bulldogs both Sunday night and then again Monday at 7:00 p.m. to advance to the Super Regionals. Â
"I'm very proud of the way we came out today after a very sub-par performance yesterday," head coach Pete Dunn said.
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Corey Kluber (12-2) notched the win with seven shutout innings. The right-hander from Coppell, Texas scattered five hits and two walks while striking out seven.Â
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"Kluber set the tone for us on the mound," Dunn said.
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He passed Willard Brown for the fifth-highest single season strikeout total (117) in Stetson history. His 12 wins match Roger Lincoln (2002) and Wayne Perry (1969) for the school's second-highest single season total. Only one runner advanced past second base, as Kluber lowered his season ERA to 1.93.Â
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A crazy third inning put Stetson on the scoreboard. Josh Clendenin started the flurry of activity with a slicing blooper down the right field line. It appeared destined for foul territory so Clendenin initially did not run and B-CU's first baseman did not cover the bag. By the time the ball landed safely, Clendenin was able to scurry down the line and reach safely. A wild pitch moved him to second and Kevin Johnson followed with a bunt single. After Johnson beat the throw to first, he noticed no one covering second base and took the bag without a throw.Â
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Shane Jordan made the Wildcats pay with a double into the right-center field gap that scored both base runners and put the Hatters on top. Justin Bass later singled in Jordan for a 3-0 lead.Â
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"They (Bethune-Cookman) helped us a little today," Dunn said, "and we were able to take advantage of it. When you're facing elimination, you'll take whatever you can get."
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The Hatters expanded their advantage with a five-run fourth. Jeremy Cruz led off with a home run to right, his third of the year. Bass singled in two more, Adam Tindle doubled in a run, and another scored on an error, making it 9-0.Â
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Three more runs in the ninth sealed the victory for Stetson. It was the Hatters first win in a Regional since 2003.Â
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The 12-run victory for Stetson was their largest margin of victory in a Regional while Bethune-Cookman was shut out in a Regional for the first time since 2001. That was also in Tallahassee and against an Atlantic Sun Conference foe, Jacksonville.Â
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The three hits for Jordan brought him within four of the Stetson and Atlantic Sun Conference career record. The three RBI for Bass give him five in the tournament.   As a team, the Hatters knocked out 14 hits, their highest total since May 2.Â
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"Today we tried to look for our pitch," Jeremy Cruz said. "We were trying to get early fastballs and knock them around the ballpark."
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Stetson now awaits either a rematch with Mississippi State or a battle with top-seeded Florida State.Â
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"I am very happy to still be here and still be playing," Dunn said. "Hopefully tomorrow is a long day for us."