Box Score DeLand, Fla.- James Madison (6-4) scored six runs in the top of the 11th inning to defeat Stetson 9-3 Friday night on Melching Field. The Hatters have now dropped their last three games and fall to 2-8 on the season.
Frank Florio (Long Valley, NJ) was 3-for-5 in the game with a double. Casey Frawley (New Haven, Ct.) picked up two hits including a game-tying RBI double in the bottom of the 9th inning.
Kevin Munson (Roanoke, Va.) picked up the win in relief for the Dukes. Stetson closer Blake Marsocci (Okeechobee, Fla.) surrendered all six runs in the 11th inning and suffered his first loss of the season (0-1).
The fans at Melching were on their feet in the bottom of the ninth inning when Stetson came back to tie the score. Sean Emory (Miami, Fla.) pinch hit and delivered a leadoff single. He was sacrificed to second on a two-strike bunt by Ethan Maskolunas (Lakeland, Fla.). That was when Frawley doubled deep down the right field line and scored Maskolunas.
After Marsocci pitched a flawless top of the 10th, the Hatters nearly won the game in dramatic fashion in the bottom half of the inning. Florio led off with his third hit, a single to left field and was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice by Mark Jones (Palm Coast, Fla.). Jones advanced to second after Marsocci, who was forced into the hitting lineup drew a walk. Then with two outs Frawley laced a single to the centerfielder who was playing in tight to the infield. Jones was waved around third and was thrown out at home after a head-first slide, an excellent throw and a great tag by the catcher.
It was a letdown for the home team and the visitors took advantage of the momentum with six runs in the top of the 11th.
Stetson opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first inning. With one out Alex Hudak walked and moved to second when Jeremy Cruz was hit by a pitch. Aaron Crittenden was next up and delivered an RBI single to center field.
James Madison marked the board with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. The leadoff batter reached base when Donovan had trouble fielding a bunt. The next batter walked and both runners scored on a triple by McKinnon Langston (Tallahassee, Fla.).
The Dukes increased their lead to 3-1 in the fifth inning on three singles. A runner thrown out stealing by Rickles and a pickoff by Donovan kept the damage at one run in the inning.
Stetson picked up its second run in the bottom of the sixth. Frank Florio delivered a two-out double to left field and scored when Jones collided with the first baseman on an apparent ground out
The Hatters and the Dukes will return to Melching Field tomorrow for games two and three of the four-game series. The first game begins at 1:00 p.m., the second at 6:30 p.m. Stetson fans can hear all the games on Hatter Vision found at www.gohatters.com. The voice of Hatters baseball Bill Topping will call the action. Tickets for all Stetson home games can be purchased on line at gohatters.com or at the gate on game day.
