Box Score Orlando, Fla. ? Sean Emory (Miami, Fla.) had three hits and Aaron Crittenden (Fort Myers, Fla.) delivered two hits including a home run and knocked in four runs, yet Stetson (23-26) came up on the short end of a back-and-forth battle with UCF (18-30) Wednesday night in Orlando. The final score was 14-8 for the home team.
Stetson used seven pitchers in the mid-week matchup with Freshman Tucker Donahue (Coral Springs, Fla.) suffering the loss and falling to 0-1 on the season. D.J. Hicks, who started the night off as the UCF designated hitter, picked up the win and is now 4-4.
Stetson scored its first run in the top of the second inning on a solo bomb by Crittenden deep to centerfield. It was the 12th round tripper of the season for the Stetson designated hitter.
The Hatters added two more runs in the third. Sean Emory (Miami, Fla.) led off with a single up the middle and then moved to second when Jeff Simpson (Valrico, Fla.) walked. The #3 batter Casey Frawley (New Haven, Ct.) singled through the left side of the infield driving in Emory. Simpson scored Stetson's third run of the game on a sacrifice fly deep to centerfield by Crittenden.
Heading into the sixth inning Stetson had three runs on the board against seven for UCF. When the inning ended the score was 9-7 in favor of the Hatters. Stetson opened the inning with six consecutive singles. After Crittenden added a 2-RBI single later in the inning Stetson had plated six runs.
Unfortunately for the Hatters, as fast as the offense gave the team a lead, the pitchers gave it back. The Knights answered with seven runs in the bottom of the seventh. The Stetson staff gave up just three hits in the inning, however one of them was a grand slam and three batters were hit by a pitch.
An interesting note coming out of the game was the first collegiate appearance on the mound by Stetson shortstop Jacob deGrom. He pitched the bottom of the eighth inning and set the Knights down in order, for the first time in the game. He also added his first-ever strike out.
Stetson will return home this weekend for an A-Sun series with East Tennessee State. The teams will meet on Melching Field Friday and Saturday at 6:30 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.
