Box Score DeLand, Fla. ? Stetson's Brian Pruitt (Miami, Fla.) singled, stole second, and then reached third base on the throw with one out in the bottom of the ninth, yet the Hatters could not get him across the plate and dropped a 5-4 decision to the University of Iowa.
The Hatters opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning on back-to-back solo home runs by Casey Frawley and Jeremy Cruz. Frawley, a sophomore out of New Haven, Ct., connected on the first home run of his college career. Cruz (Miami, Fla.) launched his 8th home run of the season over the centerfield wall.
The Hawkeyes jumped ahead in the top of the third with three runs on four singles and a successful double steal.
Stetson responded in the bottom of the 4th with a run to tie the score 4-4. Cruz led off with a single through the left side of the infield. Aaron Crittenden (Fort Myers, Fla.) was hit by a pitch with one out and then advanced to second when Bass grounded out. Freshman Frank Florio (Long Valley, NJ) stepped up and singled sharply between the first and second basemen driving in Crittenden.
Iowa broke the tie scoring two in the top of the 8th. The unearned runs were the result of an untimely error by third baseman Jacob deGrom (Deleon Springs, Fla.).
Stetson made the game interesting when Justin Bass (DeLand, Fla.) hit a line drive home run that just cleared the left field wall. It was his 5th round tripper of the season. That was as close as the home team would get on the night.
Stetson had three players with multiple hits on the night. Frawley was 2-for 5 with a run scored, Cruz finished 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Florio was 2-for-3 with an RBI. The losss dropped Stetson to 9-10 on the season while Iowa improved to 6-8.
Stetson will return to Melching Field tomorrow at 7:00 p.m.for game one of a three-game series against A-Sun foe Campbell University. Friday the two teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.
