DeLand, Fla. ? Stetson (21-24) jumped out to an early four-run lead and then cruised to a 7-3 win over  Florida International (27-17) Wednesday night on Melching Field. It was Stetson's fourth consecutive win, and second victory over FIU this season (13-7 on April 7 in Miami). 

Sean Emory (Miami, Fla.) knocked in three runs and Kyle Maulbetsch (St. Augustine, Fla.) was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI to lead the Hatters' attack. Jeremy Cruz (Miami, Fla.) was 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. It was his third consecutive multi-hit effort, and seventh in the last eight games.

Freshman pitcher Ryan Sweat (DeBary, Fla.) started the game and pitched three complete, scoreless innings for Stetson. Since his limited time on the mound was predetermined, he was credited with the win raising his season mark to 4-1. Fellow freshman Mason McVay (Miami, Fla.) took the loss for FIU and dropped to 0-2 on the season.

 Ian Thompson (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Jake Boyd (West Palm Beach, Fla.), Robbie Powell (Punta Gorda, Fla.) and Nick Bohne (Melbourne, Fla.) combined for three and one third innings of scoreless relief. Thompson struck out one batter, Powell and Bohne each had one. Blake Marsocci (Okeechobee, Fla.) allowed FIU's three runs in two and two thirds innings, while striking out two Golden Panthers.

Stetson opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Emory led off with a walk, stole second base, and scored on an RBI single to left by Cruz.

After two scoreless innings, the Hatters pushed its lead to 4-0 with three runs in the fourth. Mark Jones (Palm Coast, Fla.) led off with a single up the middle and advanced to third on a double down the right field line by Maulbetsch. The next batter, Jacob deGrom (DeLeon Springs, Fla.) reached on error by the shortstop. Jones would have scored with or without the error so deGrom earned an RBI. Starting catcher Joe Castellanos (Brandon, Fla.) laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the runners over to second and third. Emory then stepped up and delivered a single up the middle to drive in Maulbetsch and deGrom.

After allowing a single run in the top of the fifth, Stetson added three more runs in the bottom half of the inning. After leadoff singles by Casey Frawley (New Haven, Ct.) and Cruz, Maulbetsch drove them both in with a single through the right side. Maulbetsch eventually scored the Hatters' final run when Emory was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Next up Stetson will host North Florida in an A-Sun series on Friday and Saturday at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday at 1:00 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.