Macon, Ga. ? Sophomore shortstop Casey Frawley (New Haven, Conn.) went five for six at the plate with a pair of three-run home runs in the nightcap of an Atlantic Sun conference doubleheader at Mercer Saturday afternoon as the Hatters pounded the Bears 14-4.  Mercer used a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to beat Stetson 5-4 in the opener.  Stetson is now 12-15 overall and 5-7 in A-Sun action.

Following a 55-minute rain delay in the top of the sixth in the second game with Stetson ahead 4-3, the Hatters broke it open with 10 runs in their final three trips to the plate.  A barrage of base hits and a few defensive miscues by Mercer resulted in a steady stream of Stetson baserunners in the last three innings. 

In addition to Frawley's two blasts, both of which were hit to dead center field or just right of it, junior first baseman Jeremy Cruz (Miami, Fla.) hit a long solo home run to right center field in the top of the seventh.  It was his A-Sun leading 10^th home run of the season.  Frawley, who homered in the eighth and ninth innings, now has three round-trippers on the year.

Freshman third baseman Robert Crews (Port Charlotte, Fla.) connected on his fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot in the top of the fourth that staked Stetson to a 3-0 lead.  Sophomore second baseman Josh Davis (Chambersburg, Pa.) made it 4-0 in the fifth on an RBI sacrifice fly.

In addition to their home runs, Frawley also singled twice and doubled, finishing with a career-best six RBI, while Crews singled, doubled and drove in three runs.  Sophomore right fielder Brian Pruitt (Miami, Fla.) went three for five with a double and scored twice.  Freshman center fielder Jeff Simpson (Valrico, Fla.) stole his first career base and senior left fielder Justin Bass (DeLand, Fla.) extended his hitting streak to 13 consecutive games.  As a team, Stetson rapped out 15 hits and drew five walks in the second game of the doubleheader.

Junior righthander Jake Hitchcock (Alachua, Fla.) picked up his first career win with five solid innings before the rains came, scattering three runs on seven hits and a walk with four strikeouts.  Senior righty Robbie Elsemiller (Okeechobee, Fla.) earned his fourth save of the season by allowing just one run on two hits and no walks in four innings.

Catcher Casey Stuart went three for four with two RBI to lead the Mercer offense.  Starting pitcher John Hoelzer absorbed the loss with three earned runs allowed in five innings.

Stetson was denied a series win, however, because Mercer pulled off its second consecutive bottom of the ninth rally to win the opener 5-4.  The Bears had taken a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single by center fielder Matt Crawford, but closer Josh Lowey was not able to hold that lead in the top of the ninth.

With two on and nobody out after a double play, Stetson battled back for consecutive singles by freshman pinch hitter Matt Sorrell (Ormond Beach, Fla.) and Frawley.  The next batter, Davis, walked to load the bases for the always-dangerous Cruz, who himself patiently walked to score the tying run.

Lowey escaped from the jam with a groundout, however, and Mercer strung together a pair of two-out hits in the bottom of the ninth for the win.  Second baseman Michael Langley knocked in the game-winner with a single to center field off freshman reliever Nick Bohne (Melbourne, Fla.)

Sophomore designated hitter Aaron Crittenden (Fort Myers, Fla.) doubled and finished with two hits, as did Bass and Cruz.  Freshman starting left fielder Frank Florio (Long Valley, N.J.) helped push Stetson to an early 2-0 lead with his first career home run.

Senior righty Nick Pugliese (Deltona, Fla.) gave the Hatters seven strong innings, letting in four runs on nine hits and walking nobody.  He struck out two.  Lowey picked up the win for the Bears, who are now 11-16 overall and 8-7 in the Atlantic Sun.

Stetson begins a five-game homestand on Tuesday, April 1 when Volusia County rival Bethune-Cookman comes to Melching Field.  First pitch is set for approximately 7 p.m.  Bill Topping and Dave Marsh will call the action; their commentary, live video and live stats are all available on www.gohatters.com, the official online home of Stetson Athletics.