Box Score DeLand, Fla. ? Stetson rallied for one run in the 9th inning, yet let tonight's game slip away and will head into an elimination game tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. versus the #1 seed Lipscomb University. Although they out-hit the Runnin'Bulldogs 15-13, Stetson left 16 runners on base including three bases-loaded opportunities in the 10-6 loss.
Stetson batted around the order in the first inning and scored three runs on three consecutive RBI base hits. With one out Casey Frawley (New Haven, Ct.) singled to right field followed by a walk to Jeremy Cruz (Miami, Fla.). After a trio of singles by Justin Bass (DeLand, Fla.), Aaron Crittenden (Fort Myers, Fla.), and Robert Crews (Port Charlotte, Fla.), Stetson was up 3-0.
Gardner-Webb came back with two runs on three hits. Jamall Kinard (Newbury, SC) did most of the damage with a 2-RBI triple down the right field line. In addition to his triple, Kinard finished with a double and two singles.
The Hatters added a run in the bottom of the 4th inning. After a Frawley single and a throwing error by the left fielder, Josh Clendenin (Atlanta, Ga.) scored from second base.
In the top of the 5th the Runnin' Bulldogs managed to turn a one-run inning into a four-spot and a 6-4 lead after the Hatters reverted to early-season form and dropped a fly ball to centerfield that should have been the final out of the inning.
Stetson got one of the runs back in the bottom half of the inning on a blast over the wall in right-center by Brian Pruitt (Miami, Fla.). It was his first home run of the tournament and 5th of the season.
Gardner-Webb added one run in the top of the 6th and three more in the top of the 9th.
Offensively Frawley was 4-for-6 with a run scored while Bass, Crittenden, and Clendenin each contributed two hits.
With the loss Stetson fell to 26-32 overall and is 1-1 in the A-Sun Tournament. Gardner-Webb raised its record to 28-28 and 2-0.
