Box Score Orlando, Fla. ? Stetson first baseman Jeremy Cruz (Miami, Fla.) hit a towering home run against UCF starter Mitch Herold (Merritt Island, Fla.) but it wasn't enough as the Knights held on for a 4-1 win on Jay Bergman Field in Orlando.
Herold was exceptional on the mound pitching the first complete game of his career and equaling a career-high nine strike outs in the process. Stetson could muster just three hits in the game highlighted by the Cruz home.
The Knights opened the scoring in the bottom of the 4th on a solo home run to left field by Chris Duffy (Orlando, Fla.) off of Stetson reliever Jake Hitchcock (Alachua, Fla.). Hitchcock entered the game in the 3rd inning for his first relief appearance of the season. UCF added a second run off Hitchcock in the 5th inning. Dwayne Baily (Tampa, Fla.) walked on four pitches and was driven in on a double to left center by Colin Arnold (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.).
In an effort to keep the staff fresh for this weekend's series at Belmont, the Hatters coaching staff made a pre-game decision to use a variety of pitchers against the Knights. Andy Mauldin (Gainesville, Fla.) started and pitched 2 2/3 innings giving up three hits and no runs. Hitchcock followed with 2 1/3 innings allowing 2 runs on 2 hits and striking out two batters.
Travis Stortz (Safety Harbor, Fla.) entered in the top of the 5th and threw just 1/3 of an inning and surrendered 3 hits and 2 runs, one of which was unearned. Stortz was relieved by fellow freshman Nick Bohne (Melbourne, Fla.) who hurled an impressive 1 2/3 innings allowing no runs and striking out two.
Stetson marked the scoreboard for the first time in the top of the 7th inning when Jeremy Cruz blasted a leadoff home run to left field. The ball cleared the fence near the 375 marker and just missed the team bus parked in the distance. It was Cruz's league-leading 11th round tripper of the season.
Stetson closer Robbie Elsemiller (Okeechobee, Fla.) finished up on the mound pitching a scoreless 9th inning while allowing one base hit.
Stetson is now 15-18, 6-9 on the season while UCF raised its record to 24-11. The Hatters will travel to Nashville tomorrow night to take on Belmont in a weekend A-Sun series. Game times are set for Friday at 3:00 p.m.(ct), and 1:00 p.m.(ct) on Saturday and Sunday. Hatters fans can hear all the action on Hatter Vision audio with play-by-play provided by the voice of Stetson baseball Bill Topping.
