Box Score DeLand, Fla. ? Down by four runs in Saturday's series finale, the Hatters stormed back to score 10 runs in their final three innings to defeat the Bears 14-10 on Melching Field. With the win Stetson (15-19, 7-8) kept pace with Mercer (13-15, 7-8) in the Atlantic Sun Conference standings.
Sophomore left fielder Frank Florio (Long Valley, NJ) was the offensive star of the game with a 3-for-5 afternoon that included his second home run of the season and six RBI. Jeff Simpson (Valrico, Fla.) also contributed three hits to the Hatters' cause. It was the second game in a row Simpson tied for the team lead in base hits.
David Burns (Seminole, Fla.) improved his record to 2-3 on the season after pitching 2 1/3 innings of relief, giving up just one run, and striking out a batter. Burns took over for Lindsay Caughel (Orlando, Fla.) who surrendered seven runs, three of which were unearned, and struck out three in 3 2/3 innings of work. Senior Jake Hitchcock (Alachua, Fla.) allowed two runs in the ninth, yet looked solid in three full innings on the mound. He struck out one Bear on his way to his second save of 2009.
Stetson was the first team on the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Hatters sent seven batters to the plate. Sean Emory (Miami, Fla.) led off with a single through the right side and eventually scored when Aaron Critrtenden (Fort Myers, Fla.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Alex Hudak (Sorrento, Fla.) scored the second run on an RBI fielder's choice by Florio.
Mercer answered with a run in the second and two more in the third. In the bottom of the third Jeremy Cruz (Miami, Fla.) answered with a solo home run to left field. His conference-leading 12th of the season was a towering bomb that cleared the fence level with the top of the light tower, landed on the street beyond, and then bounced and rolled its way up the grass mound that surrounds Spec Martin Stadium.
Mercer scored four more runs in the top of the fourth inning and another in the fifth to take an 8-4 lead. Just when it looked like Mercer was headed towards a series sweep, Stetson exploded for six runs in the sixth inning, two in the seventh, and two more in the eighth.
The sixth inning highlight was a 3-RBI double down the right field line by Florio. In the seventh it was Kyle Maulbetsch (St. Augustine, Fla.) who delivered a two-run dinger to left center; His second home run of the season. Then, in the bottom of the eighth it was Florio who came through once again, this time with a two-run opposite-field homer to left; his second of the season.
Stetson will return to Melching Tuesday to host Bethune-Cookman at 6:30 p.m., and then travel to Gainesville Wednesday to take on the Gators 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.
