DeLand, Fla. ? In the beginning the Hatters looked like a team ready to compete with the #3 team in the nation. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a Brian Pruitt (Miami, Fla.) home run, his first of the season. In the end they suffered the same result they had many times this season. Stetson (19-27) gave up five runs in the top of the 9^th and fell 6-3 to the Seminoles (37-7).

Pruitt's 3-run blast to center field came in the 4^th inning. Jeremy Cruz (Miami, Fla.) led off with a single up the middle. Justin Bass (DeLand, Fla.) used his speed to beat out an infield single and both players scored on the Pruitt round tripper.

The Seminoles were only able to manage a single run in the 6^th inning off of reliever Jake Hitchcock before putting the Hatters away with five runs in the top of the 9^th. The first four came off of Robbie Elsemiller (Okeechobee, Fla.). The killer blow was a two-run home run by Mike McGee (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) to tie the score at three. The winning run scored on an error by Stetson's final pitcher Travis Stortz (Safety Harbor, Fla.). The freshman could have ended the inning but could not handle a tricky ball rolling down the first base line.

Starting pitcher Andy Mauldin (Gainesville, Fla.) pitched very well. He threw three innings allowing just one hit and no runs while striking out one batter.

Stetson will return to Melching Field Friday night for the opening game of an important A-Sun series versus Florida Gulf Coast. Game times are 7:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1:00 p.m. Sunday. Hatters fans can see all the action on Hatter Vision with play-by-play provided by the voice of Stetson baseball Bill Topping. They can also follow the games on GameWatcher by going to www.gohatters.com and clicking on “Live Stats”.