DeLand, Fla. - Stetson (9-12, 1-2 A-Sun) mounted two comebacks against Florida Gulf Coast (12-6, 5-1 A-Sun) on Saturday with a disappointing end to the first and a successful conclusion to the second. FGCU won the first game of the doubleheader 8-4 and Stetson came out on top in the nightcap 10-8.
On the day Robert Crews (Port Charlotte, Fla.) was 3-for-7 with a home run, five RBI, and a run scored. Spencer Theisen (Longwood, Fla.) totaled 4-for-6 with a home run, three RBI and a run scored. Ryan Lashley (Lake Worth, Fla.) was 4-for-8 with four runs scored and an RBI.
After a tough loss in the first game the Hatters were down again in the second, this time 8-0 heading into the bottom of the 5th before mounting their charge. Jeff Simpson led off the inning and extended his current hitting streak to 16 games with a single to right center. Mark Jones (Palm Coast, Fla.) followed with a walk and both were advanced with a groundout to the right side by Aaron Crittenden (Fort Myers, Fla.). Catcher Nick Rickles (Loxahatchee, Fla.) was next and he delivered a sacrifice fly to center plating Simpson. Next in the box was Kurt Schluter (Jupiter, Fla.) who ripped a first-pitch fastball deep down the left field line for a double scoring Jones. After a Theisen walk, an RBI single by Lashley, and a two-RBI single by Crews the Hatters had cut the lead to three runs.
Stetson scored two more runs in the bottom of the 7th to get to within a run and then saved the best for last. Crittenden led off the 8th, was hit by a pitch, and then gave way to Nathan Cox (Naples, Fla.) who pinch ran. Rickles dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Cox over and then Schluter drew a walk to give the Hatters first and second with one out. Theisen stepped up and poked a single to left-center scoring Cox and tying the game. A Lashley single loaded the bases and then with two outs Emory became the offensive hero with a drive to right field that scored Lashley and Theisen.
"You never know in this game", said Stetson head coach Pete Dunn. "You are never happy losing 2-of-3 but coming back from an 8-0 deficit in the third game against a team like this feels good. You hope that is a spark for the team. We have a lot of young kids on this team that are just learning to win. I hope today was a good lesson for them."
While the offense came alive, sophomore pitcher Robbie Powell (Punta Gorda, Fla.) held the Eagles scoreless for the final 4 1/3 innings to give his team a chance. He allowed just three hits and struck out two including the last batter he faced in the top of the 9th inning. It was the first win of the season for Powell who is now 1-0.
"That is the second straight outstanding performance out of the pen for Powell. After getting off to a slow start this season it is good to see", said Dunn.
In the day's first game starting pitcher David Burns (Seminole, Fla.) looked sharp early, yet ended up taking the loss and dropped to 2-1 on the season. Will Dorsey (Atlantic Beach, Fla.) followed with one scoreless inning including a strike out. Jake Boyd (West Palm Beach, Fla.) finished up with four complete innings of work surrendering just two hits and one run while striking out two.
Theisen and Crews each homered for the Hatters in the loss. It was the second of the season for Theisen and the fifth for Crews.
Next up for the Hatters is a trip to Tallahassee on Wednesday to face the Florida State Seminoles at 6:00 p.m. Stetson fans can catch the game audio on Hatter Vision by going to www.gohatters.com. The voice of Stetson baseball Bill Topping will call the action.
