Box Score DeLand, Fla. ? Stetson freshman 3rd baseman Jacob deGrom (DeLeon Springs, Fla.) came through with a 3 RBI double in the 4th inning and senior Robbie Elsemiller closed the door with two scoreless innings to lead the Hatters to a 9-6 win over Iowa.
Stetson opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning when Justin Bass (DeLand, Fla.) singled through the left side and advanced to second when the pitcher overthrew the first baseman on a pickoff attempt. After moving over to third he scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Brian Pruitt (Miami, Fla.).
The Hawkeyes came right back in the top of the 3rd and scored five runs off of Stetson starter Justin Dechert (Boynton Beach, Fla.). Three of the five runs were unearned as the Hatters committed two errors in the inning.
In the bottom of the 4th Stetson returned the favor with the three runs knocked in by deGrom. Jeremy Cruz (Miami, Fla.) led off with a walk, Bass was hit by a pitch, and freshman Frank Florio singled to center to load the bases. After the deGrom double Stetson was to within one run at 5-4. The Hatters went ahead to stay one inning later with three more runs in the bottom of the 5th.
“It was a good comeback tonight”, said head coach Pete Dunn. “It certainly wasn't artistic, yet I am proud of the way we came back.”
Stetson finished off the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the 7th inning. Aaron Crittenden (Fort Myers, Fla.) started the offense with a one out single through the right side of the infield. Bass followed with a double down the left field line that scored Crittenden all the way from first. Josh Clendenin (Atlanta, Ga.) hit his second single of the game to move Bass to 3rd base. Clendenin and Bass then executed a text book double steal to score the final run of the game.
Clendenin was 2-for-2 on the night, and Bass was 2-for-3 with 3 runs scored. Andy Mauldin pitched five complete innings of relief allowing just one run and striking out 3 batters. He picked up the win and ran his record to 2-0 on the season. Closer Robbie Elsemiller pitched the final two innings striking out two batters and picking up his second consecutive save, third of the season.
Stetson is now 9-9 on the season and Iowa dropped to 5-8. The teams will meet up again tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. on Melching Field.
