Box Score DeLand, Fla. ? Stetson's leading hitter Jeremy Cruz (Miami, Fla.) continued his hot hitting with a 2-for-4 night yet it wasn't enough as the Hatters dropped a 7-3 game to non conference foe UCF Wednesday night at Melching Field.
Designated Hitter Aaron Crittenden (Fort Myers, Fla.) the team's second leading hitter was also 2-for-4 with an RBI boosting his season average to .426. Cruz still leads the team at an impressive .518.
The Knights struck first with two runs in the first inning on three singles and a fielder's choice RBI. Stetson answered with one run in the bottom of the 4th. After Cruz doubled to right field he scored on a single by freshman Frank Florio (Long Valley, NJ). Stetson then followed with one run in each of the next two innings.
In the 5th shortstop Robert Crews (Port Charlotte, Fla.) hammered an opposite-field home run over the right field wall, his 3rd of the season. In the 6th Crittenden smashed his 5th home run of the season to right field to make the score 4-3 UCF. Unfortunately for Hatter fans that was as close as the home team would get on the night. The Knights added one run in the 8th and a pair in the 9th to make the final score 7-3.
Stetson used six pitchers in the game. Starter Blake Marsocci pitched 5 1/3 innings giving up 7 hits, 4 runs, walked 4 and struck out 4 batters. He took the loss dropping his record to 2-1 on the season.
The Hatters are now 7-7 overall and 1-2 in conference play. Tomorrow they get on the bus and head to Boiling Springs, NC for an A-Sun series on Friday (3:00 pm) and Saturday (DH starting at Noon) versus Gardner-Webb. Hatter fans can hear all the action by tuning into the audio broadcast of Hatter Vision at www.gohatters.com. The voice of Hatters baseball Bill Topping will supply the play-by-play.
