DeLand, Fla.- It was a good news-bad news Sunday afternoon for the Hatters on Melching Field. The good news was the awakening of Stetson's power hitting game led by Jeremy Cruz (Miami, Fla.) and his first two home runs of the season. The bad news was that the pitching staff gave up 17 runs and the Hatters (3-10) fell to James Madison (8-5) for the third time in the four-game series.

In the game Cruz was 3-for-4 with a walk and two RBI, freshman catcher Nick Rickles (Loxahatchee, Fla.) was 2-for-4 with his second home run of the season, and fellow freshman Mark Jones (Palm Coast, Fla.) had two hits in five at bats including the first home run of his collegiate career. Unfortunately all four Stetson home runs were of the solo variety.

Stetson had its back up against the wall from the get-go after the Dukes posted four runs in the first inning off of starter Andy Mauldin (Gainesville, Fla.). Mauldin threw two innings giving up seven hits and five earned runs. Five of the Hatters' six pitchers surrendered at least one run before freshman Robbie Powell (Punta Gorda, Fla.) tossed a scoreless ninth inning.

After falling behind in the first Stetson answered in the bottom half of the inning when Rickles delivered a shot off the scoreboard in left field.

Down 9-1 in the bottom of the fourth Stetson added two more runs to keep the game within reach. A pair of solo home runs by Cruz and Jones did the damage. The Hatters added two more runs in the sixth on Cruz's second consecutive round tripper and an RBI fielder's choice by Jacob deGrom (DeLeon Springs, Fla.) that plated Frank Florio (Long Valley, NJ).

It seemed that each time Stetson scored to get within reach, JMU would quiet the fans with a few more runs. The Hatters finished their scoring with three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Pitcher Robby Donovan started the rally when he pinch hit and poked a single through the hole on the right side of the infield. Also getting hits in the inning were Casey Frawley (New Haven, Ct.) and Alex Hudak (Sorrento, Fla.) with singles, and Rickles with a double down the left field line.

The Hatters will return to Melching Field Tuesday night to take on Central Michigan in the first of a two-game series. Game time is scheduled for 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.