DeLand, Fla. ? Junior first baseman Jeremy Cruz (Miami, Fla.) went seven for nine at the plate to extend his hitting streak to 10 games as the Stetson baseball team (6-4) swept a doubleheader from visiting Central Michigan (1-8) Wednesday at Melching Field.  Cruz has now recorded multiple base hits in each of the last four games.

Cruz delivered two doubles, a triple and a home run en route to an incredible 1.777 slugging percentage on the day.  Stetson defeated CMU 13-3 in the first game and 11-5 in the nightcap.

In the opener, Cruz singled twice, doubled and homered (his fourth of the year) as Stetson put 12 of its 13 runs on the board between the fourth and seventh innings to erase a 2-1 deficit.  Freshman shortstop Robert Crews (Port Charlotte, Fla.) came up with one out in the bottom of the first and drilled a solo home run to put the Hatters ahead 1-0.  Central Michigan would tie it in the second and then go ahead in the top of the fourth on a long home run to left field by first baseman Sean Hoorelbeke.

The Hatters took the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, including an RBI double by sophomore designated hitter Aaron Crittenden (Fort Myers, Fla.).  Cruz's two-run home run in the fifth made it a 6-2 ballgame and then Stetson broke it wide open with five runs in the sixth frame.  Sophomore second baseman Casey Frawley (New Haven, Conn.) rapped an RBI double and Cruz collected an RBI single to set the stage for sophomore right fielder Brian Pruitt (Miami, Fla.) to double with the bases loaded, driving in three more runs.

Cruz drove in three runs and scored three runs as well with his four hits in the opener.  Crews went three for four with two RBI as the Hatters pounded out 16 base hits in the game.  Junior starting pitcher Blake Marsocci (Okeechobee, Fla.) went struck out two batters in five and a third innings, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks to earn his second victory.  A trio of Hatter relievers blanked the Chippewas for the final three and two-thirds innings: sophomore Ian Thompson (St. Petersburg, Fla.), junior Andy Mauldin (Gainesville, Fla.) and freshman Nick Bohne (Melbourne, Fla.).  CMU starter Bryce Morrow allowed five earned runs in four innings to take the loss.

The Hatters continued to mash the ball in the second game of the doubleheader, scoring two runs in each of the first three innings to put the game quickly out of reach.  Cruz got it all started with an RBI triple in the bottom of the first and also added an RBI single in the second.

With Stetson already ahead 7-0, Crittenden greeted Chippewa reliever Devan Kline with a blast over the right field fence on his second pitch of the sixth inning for his third home run of the year; Cruz socked yet another RBI double in the seventh to raise his batting average this season to an astounding .564 (22-39).

Cruz went three for four and just a home run shy of hitting for the cycle in that second game while Crittenden collected two hits and two RBI.  Frawley,  redshirt sophomore catcher Brad Pippa (Danbury, Conn.) and freshman third baseman Jacob DeGrom (DeLeon Springs, Fla.) racked up two hits apiece.

Mauldin earned his first win of the season with three and a thirds innings of solid relief, striking out four and allowing just one run in relief of freshman starter Travis Stortz (Safety Harbor, Fla.).

CMU starter Dan Taylor took the loss with 10 hits, three walks and seven runs allowed (five earned) in five innings.  Infielder Jeff Digati doubled twice for the Chippewas and was the only CMU player to get two hits.

The Hatters are back in action Friday night when they begin a key three-game non-conference series at LSU (9-1).  First pitch from Alex Box Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central (8 p.m. Eastern).  As always, Hatter fans can tune into www.gohatters.com to hear Bill Topping call all the balls and strikes from Baton Rouge this weekend.